Transformation of professional cricket, rugby and soccer in South Africa since 1994: A systematic review

Abstract

Racial inequalities in sport resulting from apartheid in South Africa are well documented, and they are evident in the participation (or non-participation) levels in the various sports. More than a quarter of a century after the end of apartheid, inequality still exists to some extent in sports such as rugby and cricket where historically, people of colour were excluded from participation at any representative level.  However, there has been comparatively limited work conducted in recent years on the place and role of sport in post-apartheid South Africa. This systematic review examines articles published on the history of sport in South Africa since 1994 and the transformation process required for inclusivity. This forms the criterion for the inclusion and exclusion of articles. The bulk of the literature was been retrieved from searches on Google Scholar and SCOPUS’ databases, and complemented with comprehensive sports-related documentary reviews. This review is focused on professional sport in South Africa, with a particular focus on the three most popular ones, i.e. soccer (football), rugby and cricket. The main aim of transformation in sport has been to develop a unified and successful nation that competes  internationally with teams that are accepted by the whole nation and representative of the demographics of South Africa. Sport (rugby and cricket in particular) needs to implement tangible solutions in response to the transformation trajectory, not because government imposes quotas on teams or threatens to ban a federation from international competition, but rather because transformed sport, both on and off the field, will make the ‘rainbow nation’ a force to be reckoned with in the international sporting fraternity.