SPORT NEWS - Following Cricket South African reports that has removed David Teeger as captain of the U-19 National team ahead of the sport’s World Cup tournament, the World Jewish Congress released the following statement on 18 January, from New York:
“The decision by Cricket South Africa to relieve Teeger is the latest disheartening moment for the Jewish community in South Africa. Despite assertions of ‘security threats,’ no credible evidence has been presented, leading us to conclude that these claims are more of an excuse than a reality, masking the true motivation.
“If there were legitimate threats, CSA should have taken measures to ensure the safety of Teeger and others. This incident serves as a distressing reminder of historical injustices, reminiscent of the dark days of Nazi Germany when Jews were excluded from the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
“We urge CSA to reconsider its decision, take a principled stand and rectify the situation by reinstating David Teeger as the captain of the South African cricket team immediately. This disastrous decision by CSA is about a lot more than just cricket. It’s about ensuring that Jews can make meaningful contributions to South Africa and feel at home in South Africa, while emphasizing the need for South African officials and leaders to unequivocally condemn all forms of antisemitism.”
In a statement from South African Jewish Board of Deputies following a meeting with Cricket South Africa, the organization issued a statement indicating that the meeting “categorically failed to provide credible evidence that there had been any real security threats to the upcoming Under19 World Cup tournament on account of David Teeger being captain of the SA team.”
Read the full statement from the South African Jewish Board of Deputies.
About the World Jewish Congress
The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is the international organization representing Jewish communities in 100 countries to governments, parliaments and international organizations. www.wjc.org
Twitter | Facebook
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
