More than a week after Parliament called for an investigation into the controversial Bokkieweek sporting tournament recently held in Limpopo, there has been no public indication that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has initiated a formal inquiry or announced any official action.
The silence follows days of political criticism, public debate and responses from organisations across South Africa after allegations surrounding the annual Afrikaner sporting event dominated national headlines.
The controversy first gained national attention after News24 published an report alleging that Afrikaner Volkseie Sport (AVS), organisers of Bokkieweek, hosted a tournament during which Die Stem van Suid-Afrika, the former national anthem of South Africa, was sung. The report further alleged that participating teams competed under South Africa's pre-1994 provincial names and that three national sporting federations had declined invitations to participate.
The report sparked an immediate political response from Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie, both of whom took to social media to condemn the tournament.
Image: Screenshot/X (@Lesufi)
Image: Screenshot/X (@GaytonMcK)
While criticism intensified, organisations supporting the tournament defended both Bokkieweek and the constitutional rights of cultural organisations.
In a media statement, AfriForum accused News24 and politicians of insulting a cultural sporting event.
”News24 and some anti-Afrikaner politicians insult Afrikaners by portraying our culture and cultural opportunities as racist remnants of apartheid. We will not be insulted by those who do not give us anything”
The organisation maintained that cultural sporting events are common among many communities and argued that Bokkieweek provides opportunities for young Afrikaners who, in its view, are disadvantaged by race-based quotas in provincial school sports tournaments.
Solidariteit Chief Executive Dr Dirk Hermann expressed similar views in an opinion article, arguing that cultural expression should not be viewed as abnormal.
“It would be tragic if what is normal became abnormal. It is equally tragic when something that is abnormal is presented as normal.” he said
He described Bokkieweek as a response to what he believes is the exclusion of some children through race-based selection policies in school sport, contending that racial quotas—not cultural sporting events—are the real abnormality.
AVS President David Mey also rejected accusations that the tournament is political or discriminatory, maintaining that Bokkieweek is an Afrikaner cultural sporting event focused on youth development.
Image: Screenshot/Facebook (@Bokkieweek)
As the debate intensified, Parliament also entered the discussion. Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries, Makhi Feni, called on the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture to investigate the allegations.
The committee requested that the departments examine the tournament's participation criteria, the role of schools and educators, and whether the event complied with the constitutional principles of equality, non-discrimination and inclusivity.
Despite Parliament's call, the Department of Basic Education has yet to publicly announce whether any investigation has commenced or outline any process arising from the request.
For now, attention turns to whether the department will act on Parliament's recommendation, and what any future decision could mean for Bokkieweek and the broader debate surrounding cultural sporting events in South Africa.