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Protests erupt in South Africa demanding the reinstatement of Jewish cricket captain
Late January, protests erupted at Cricket South Africa’s headquarters as supporters demanded the reinstatement of David Teeger, the Jewish U-19 cricket captain stripped of his position due to alleged “security concerns” during the ongoing Cricket World Cup. Demonstrators, brandishing signs proclaiming “He’s My Captain,”“Stop Racism in Sport,” and “No Place for Antisemitism,” accused Cricket South Africa (CSA) of unjustly targeting Teeger and promoting antisemitism. The controversy stems from Teeger’s removal on the eve of the Cricket World Cup, with CSA citing “security concerns” surrounding potential violent pro-Hamas demonstrations. However, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) dismissed this explanation as a “ruse.” In a meeting with CSA, SAJBD claimed that Teeger’s exclusion was based on his vocal support for Israel during a speech at a Jewish communal awards ceremony. An independent investigation, led by Advocate Wim Trengove and initiated by CSA, cleared Teeger of violating the organisation’s code of conduct. Despite this, Teeger remains excluded
