Date: 29 August 2016 Name: Nicola Smith
Module: Political Science 354 Student number: 17510252
Lecturer: Prof Adams Jack
Tutor: Chrissie Struckmann
How is South Africa’s implementation of racial quotas in national sports teams in contradiction
to it’s claimed ‘equality and freedom from racial discrimination’ as outlined in the constitution,
as well as its membership/alignment to many sporting institutions whom condemn
discrimination of any kind?
Abstract (history of racial segregation of apartheid that led to sports quotas etc)
South Africa’s history of racial segregation meant that for more than 50 years’ non-whites
were not allowed to participate and represent their country in national sporting teams. After
21 years of democracy, South Africa is still plagued with racial inequalities, which are evident
in the lack of non-white sportsmen and women participating in national sporting teams, as well
as at provincial and school team levels. The South African government has put pressure on
sporting bodies to transform and develop sports teams that have equal representation and
participation as a reflection of the total population of South Africa. Racial quotas have been
one of the many tools used to improve equal representation and participation of non-whites in
sporting teams, which aims to eradicate racial inequality in South African. Although sporting
quotas have been successful to some extent, it is evident it has raised concern of whether it is
a fair method to improve racial equality in South Africa. There has been much political
backlash as many sports teams have been unable to implement sporting quotas, which has
resulted in harsher and more dogmatic approaches by the South African government and
Minister of Sport and Recreation.
Introduction
Racial inequality is still heavily engrained in South African society today, which has led to the
establishment of many developmental and transformative policies by the South African
Government and it’s sporting bodies. The South African Government, and the department of
Sports and Recreation have introduced racial quotas as a tool to increase the participation and
representation of non-white peoples in national and provincial sporting teams, which ultimately
aims to reduce racial inequalities in South Africa. This essay aims to critically analyze the
effectiveness and impact of sporting quotas, as an analytical tool, on the public policy challenge
of racial inequality in South Africa. It will begin with a discussion of the value of sport for
South Africa, followed by an analysis of the impact of sports quotas, as well as discussing the
1
Module: Political Science 354 Student number: 17510252
Lecturer: Prof Adams Jack
Tutor: Chrissie Struckmann
How is South Africa’s implementation of racial quotas in national sports teams in contradiction
to it’s claimed ‘equality and freedom from racial discrimination’ as outlined in the constitution,
as well as its membership/alignment to many sporting institutions whom condemn
discrimination of any kind?
Abstract (history of racial segregation of apartheid that led to sports quotas etc)
South Africa’s history of racial segregation meant that for more than 50 years’ non-whites
were not allowed to participate and represent their country in national sporting teams. After
21 years of democracy, South Africa is still plagued with racial inequalities, which are evident
in the lack of non-white sportsmen and women participating in national sporting teams, as well
as at provincial and school team levels. The South African government has put pressure on
sporting bodies to transform and develop sports teams that have equal representation and
participation as a reflection of the total population of South Africa. Racial quotas have been
one of the many tools used to improve equal representation and participation of non-whites in
sporting teams, which aims to eradicate racial inequality in South African. Although sporting
quotas have been successful to some extent, it is evident it has raised concern of whether it is
a fair method to improve racial equality in South Africa. There has been much political
backlash as many sports teams have been unable to implement sporting quotas, which has
resulted in harsher and more dogmatic approaches by the South African government and
Minister of Sport and Recreation.
Introduction
Racial inequality is still heavily engrained in South African society today, which has led to the
establishment of many developmental and transformative policies by the South African
Government and it’s sporting bodies. The South African Government, and the department of
Sports and Recreation have introduced racial quotas as a tool to increase the participation and
representation of non-white peoples in national and provincial sporting teams, which ultimately
aims to reduce racial inequalities in South Africa. This essay aims to critically analyze the
effectiveness and impact of sporting quotas, as an analytical tool, on the public policy challenge
of racial inequality in South Africa. It will begin with a discussion of the value of sport for
South Africa, followed by an analysis of the impact of sports quotas, as well as discussing the
1
