October 17 Thursday 2002
SA set to continue without race quotas 

CAPE TOWN: The controversial decision by South Africa's cricket chiefs to abolish compulsory race quotas at domestic level looks set to remain intact following a government appointed inquiry. 

The inquiry's report was handed to sports minister Ngconde Balfour on Wednesday and although its contents were not revealed, all indications are that it will not recommend the reinstatement of quotas. 

Balfour, meanwhile, added to the atmosphere of reconciliation by promising not to impose his will on the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) even if the inquiry's report recommended change. 

"There is a difference between force and persuasion and I am not a forceful minister," Balfour told a news conference. 

"I never said I rejected what the UCB said - I simply said I would like to validate it. I would love to validate it." 

Inquiry chairman John Smith said his five-member team had compiled data from all 11 affiliated unions on the subjects of transformation and quotas, assuring the UCB that there would be "...very little difference on the factual issues" between his report and the UCB's own data. 

While the interpretation of those facts will almost certainly vary, neither Smith nor Balfour indicated a desire to put South African cricket through yet another crisis. 

Racial quotas were set to prescribe a minimum of four black players per provincial team in the current season until they were abolished over three months ago. Balfour said he would read the report and release its contents within seven days.