SACA voices support for Lungi Ngidi, wants freedom of expression

The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) has voiced its support for Proteas fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, who has been in the headlines this week after saying that he would be in favour of supporting the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.

Ngidi further said the Proteas, as a whole, should get behind the movement and that stance drew criticism from former Proteas like Boeta Dippenaar and Pat Symcox.

ALSO READ: Ex-Protea Boeta Dippenaar stands by views on BLM: ‘All lives matter’

CSA, meanwhile, on Thursday evening gave its full support to the BLM movement and, on Friday morning, SACA also made its position clear.

“The South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) today recorded their strong support for Lungi and his right to freedom of expression,” SACA said in a press statement.

“Individual athlete activism has challenged societal prejudices since Tommie Smith, Peter Norman, and John Carlos stood up for human rights and against racial oppression from the Olympic podium in 1968.

“The International Olympic Committee earlier this year confirmed their regulations of suppressing the right of Olympic athletes to exercise their freedom of expression.

“This is evidence of how little change there has been within world sport, it denies athletes their basic right to express an opinion, and reinforces the institutional racism that exists in many sporting federations.”

Andrew Breetzke, CEO of SACA said: “Freedom of expression is an enabling right that all South Africans support.

“We must, therefore, respect Lungi, as a sporting role model, when he exercises his freedom of expression on the important matter of racial discrimination. To subject him to unfair criticism is to undermine his right.

“As SACA CEO I lead a diverse group of players and I stand with Lungi in my commitment to transformation, diversity, and to continue to work towards building a more inclusive game and society.”

SACA president Omphile Ramela added: “Many of our cricketers have spoken out on a number of issues, including lack of transformation, gender-based violence and child abuse – they are more than sportsmen and women, they have a right to support initiatives that represent their social interest.

“Sport continues to be a microcosm of society, yet it remains the most forceful tool we have to break the shackles and bondages of the past.”

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.