No surprise SA lost bid to host the World Cup

ALTHOUGH extremely disappointed that South Africa has lost the bid to host the Rugby World Cup 2023 tournament, the result came as no surprise for the following reasons:

Our previous minister of sport, Fikile Mbalula, and the government at one stage would not support the bid because of a “lack of transformation”.

In other words, the national rugby team (not soccer) had to be selected on a quota system and not on merit.

South Africa is the only country in the world where this happens;

This same minister of sport was, in the first instance, allegedly advised of his appointment by a well-known family and not by the president of the country.

Whether this was the case or not, the whole world heard about it;

This minister is now the minister of police in a country where crime is out of control, and where tourists are attacked and robbed on a regular basis;

There is a lack of leadership in South Africa, with the little that there is coming from the same well-known family;

The controversy surrounding our “successful” soccer World Cup 2010 bid no doubt also played its part.

Our sports administrators have a lot to learn.

Frank Ellis, Port Elizabeth

SO South Africa loses the Rugby World Cup bid, boo hoo.

International tourists, sometimes busloads, keep getting robbed on their arrival travelling from O R Tambo Airport.

South Africa, get your s#+t together.

Tod Burns, Port Elizabeth