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The Proteas said it would show support for the Black Lives Matter movement by raising their fists at the start of the first Betway Test series against Sri Lanka.
The team has been criticised for opting to not take the knee in the series against England.
“We as the Proteas team have, on multiple occasions, declared our unmistakable support for the Black Lives Matter campaign,” the team said in a statement on Saturday.
“We recognize that our actions will most likely result in criticism from some community, one way or another, but work to prioritise the team, to be honest about our own learning journey and to continue to make decisions that we can own in good conscience as a team, first and foremost, and as individuals.”
The statement said the raised fist was a powerful gesture in our own history, as expressed in the iconic images of Nelson and Winnie Mandela on Mandela’s release from prison in 1990.
“In this context, it was a powerful gesture of triumph, an acknowledgment of the struggle against apartheid, and a commitment to continuing to fight for equality, justice, and freedom, while also honouring the religious and cultural responsibilities of every member of our team.”
The Proteas also noted that while American football quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, is now known for initiating the gesture of taking the knee, he began his protest by sitting during the singing of the United States of America (USA) anthem.
“His decision to move toward taking the knee was a response to his context and a desire to own a gesture that had deep significance in the USA political environment.”
The Proteas said in the same vein as Kaepernick, we would like to use our sporting platform to raise awareness around an issue that matters deeply in this historical moment.
“We want to do so in a way that unites us around a gesture we own, which speaks to and resonates in our South African context, and which is connected to our own history of the struggle for human rights.”
The first Betway test starts at Supersport Park in Centurion on Saturday.
