Open letter to Ashwin Willemse:
Life is tough, Mr Willemse, and we all have times when we feel hurt, then the mind spins and a sort of blindness comes over us.
We understand hurt.
This situation gives us the opportunity to discuss the indignity which the “quota system” brings.
You’ve heard the expression, “We want the best man for the job”.
If you’re choosing a rugby side, wouldn’t you want the best players in it?
You play to enjoy the game, but you play to win. Right?
We, the public, want the best people for the job in the rugby team, in the commentary box and if you’re him, then great, do the work, do all that’s expected of you.
Do it well.
We want the best rugby players on the field, because we want to win all our games at international level.
It shouldn’t matter what skin colour is represented on the field.
Athletics doesn’t have too many problems in this regard, tennis seems to be quiet on this subject, it doesn’t seem to crop up in weightlifting.
Individual sports don’t seem to have as many negatives as two of our country’s major sports, rugby and cricket. And they’re the biggest money spinners.
Mr Willemse, you were a “quota” Springbok rugby player, like it or not.
It’s how it works in South Africa.
Black people in most team sporting sides are becoming known as “quota” players (except soccer or maybe netball), because our politics demands a certain “quota” of so-called black players in a side.
It’s not nice, but black rugby players are what our government calls “quota players”, whether you’re the best in the world or just a hanger-on.
Blame it for the expression given to black players.
The dictionary I have says quota is “a limited or fixed number or amount of people or things”.
Rassie Erasmus has said he will try to have 50% black players and 50% white players in his Springbok side for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
That’s a “quota”, a required percentage.The emphasis is on trying to have 50% black players in the side.
He’s already got 50% whites, so the black players are the “quota” players he’s aiming for.
Not very nice to say it like that, but it’s what the government demands.
It doesn’t mean you were a bad rugby player and didn’t deserve your chance; you were good.
Some said you were great.
You got a break and you used it well. Well done.
This is a country which is oversensitive to race.
It used to favour whites and now it favours blacks.
That’s the way it is.
It is not – in my opinion – the way it’s always supposed to be. Maybe soon we’ll get to a position of equality.
Most of our best boxers are black and they’re world class.
They got there without a quota system.
They got there on merit, otherwise they would be, literally and figuratively, knocked out.
Mr Willemse, most of our soccer players are black. They got there by merit. Nobody said there should be mostly black players in a team.
The Comrades ultra-marathon has a black male winner. Great!
It’s strange that a quota is needed for cricket and rugby, and sad that you came in under this government-invented cloud.
It’s not so nice for you when one fully considers it.
The unfortunate label of “the quota system” might have benefited you.
It’s impossible to know.
Of course you’ve proved yourself. Yes, well done.
Should people be embarrassed that they’re also part of the quota system, when maybe they merit their position?
In your case, which has been blown wide open and out of proportion, it didn’t help that before minister Thokozile Xasa had investigated the facts, she had a mouthful of stuff to say. That was most unfortunate.
It showed unbalanced support for an issue she hadn’t investigated. Was this a racist bias?
There is much more than meets the eye on this subject, but the bottom line, Mr Willemse, whether you fit in comfortably or not in life, will depend on your attitude.
And walking off a set when you’re hurt, angry or for any reason other than being severely ill, is unacceptable and unprofessional.
Yes, “quota” has proved to be a highly unfortunate word, a word many people don’t like. The word “quota” is a pity; it doesn’t give dignity to certain players.
There are numerous players who’ve shone and possibly well deserve their team position.
Maybe the quota system should be done away with; please give your opinion on whether only merit should now be introduced.
It would be good to hear from you in this regard.
 J
Port Elizabeth