Mthethwa speaks out on fans at stadiums
British and Irish Lions tour, while the new Rainbow Cup SA competition starts today.
SA Rugby have been pushing hard for government to open up stadiums to spectators once more, even at limited numbers, in order to generate some much-needed income following a disastrous 2020, where R1.2 billion had to be cut from expenses across the industry due to the effects of the coronavirus on the sport.
But Mthethwa said that it was not his decision to make, as the National Coronavirus Command Council is the authority on such matters. He did, though, state the concerns from the health sector of a possible “third wave” of infections sweeping through the country soon.
“You’d recall that earlier on, after March last year, when the president proclaimed the National Disaster for the Covid-19 pandemic, there was this time where everything came to a standstill, including play itself. The sporting fraternity took it upon themselves to understand the situation, and was able to make a case to government for opening up play, and going back to play,” he said.
“Similarly, this time around, with everything we do, we are guided by health. Guided by epidemiologists, and so on… It’s not a matter of a Minister of Sport, who would say ‘No, fans go back’.
“What if that becomes a superspreader? We are informed that between May and July, we are facing a possibility of a third wave. Now that should guide us. We can’t, in the midst of a third wave, just get people and go and kill them.”
He said that SA Rugby have asked for stadiums to be half-full for the Lions Tests. It has been reported in the UK that the biggest, FNB Stadium, could host two of those matches.
“Well, that is being looked at, but it must answer the question: If you take FNB (Stadium), which is 90 000 people, and you say 50% – which is 45 000 people – how are you going to ensure that that opening up is not a superspreader? So, those questions have to be answered, like they did in the past.
“When it comes to football, for instance, they came with the concept of a bio-bubble and so on, and it was an attractive concept.
“It has been able to be implemented and it worked.
“But right now, we do not decide as individual Departments of Sport, of Tourism… Within the Command Council, we are guided by the health situation.
“No individual minister is going to come up with an answer on this matter. But the weekly meeting of the National Command Council, looking at this matter, will always guide the entire society, not one aspect of society.”
The Lions tour is scheduled to start on July 3 at Cape Town Stadium, with the Tests set for July 24 and 31, and August 7.