Sports Ministry to block Beast?

Tendai Mtawarira

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More doubt has been cast over Zimbabwean-born Springbok prop Tendai Mtawarira's eligibility for Friday's Test against France in Toulouse.

The 19-Test cap Sharks prop has been named in South Africa's starting line-up amidst an ongoing saga surrounding his citizenship.

Mtawarira is eligible to play for South Africa according to the IRB's three-year residency rule (which allows Riki Flutey to play for England, for example) but the South African Sports Ministry seems less flexible.

A statement released by the Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile's office seems to contradict the South African Rugby Union statement released last Saturday in which SARU said that Mtawarira has been cleared to tour with the Bok squad following "productive discussions" between the administrators and the Sports Ministry.

"The government has been very helpful in expediting the completion of the necessary protocols," said SARU President Oregan Hoskins.

However, reports have revealed that Stofile is yet to give the green light since Mtawarira does not have permanent residence, nor does he have a South African passport. Reports in South Africa suggest that he only has a work permit that entitles him to play for the Sharks.

Mtawarira is still with the Boks in Toulouse but a closer look at the full statement from the Ministry of Sport and Recreation leads one to believe that his participation in Friday's Test could be in doubt:

"SUBJECT: MINISTRY OF SPORT & RECREATION COMMENT ON TENDAI MTAWARIRA's INCLUSION IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY TEAM

"1. SA Rugby has requested the Minister of Sport & Recreation SA, Rev Dr Makhenkesi Stofile to intervene in securing South African citizenship for Tendai "The Beast" Mtawarira, a Zimbabwean national, who plays professional rugby in South Africa.

"2. This request to have the Minister use his position to have the process of securing permanent residence and subsequently, citizenship expedited ahead of the year end tour in Europe, has exposed our Sport administrators' clear disrespect or lack of understanding of our laws.

"3. Talented as he is, Tendai, like all foreign nationals plying their trade in South Africa, is bound by the laws of this country. The migration laws of our country are clear on issues relating to permanent residence and citizenship. We expect our sport administrators to understand and respect legislation that regulate their business. None of the athletes, sport codes, or Federations can be bigger than the country.

"4. While Tendai is a live wire on the field of play, the question is whether it is, in the first place, justifiable to say he has scarce skills - the rationale that would have enabled him to obtain the current work permit. If we go the route our Rugby administrators are requesting us to take, and facilitate the fast-racking of Tendai's citizenship, what would this say to all rugby players in our country? We cannot as a Government Department responsible for sport and recreation in this country, afford to insult our players like this.

"5. The principle here is clear: Only citizens of our country can play for our National team, irrespective of the sport code. Therefore, no foreign national can play for any of our national teams, no matter how outstanding they may be. If any player in any code is to become a South African citizen, this has to be done within the legal framework of our country.

"6. Federations, Provinces and clubs, are more than welcome to approach us for advice on similar issues, instead of trying to slip a player through the legal framework.

"Issued by: Sport and Recreation SA."