Six-in-ten voters say national teams must be picked strictly on ability, reflecting a deep-rooted belief that excellence depends on fair competition, not racial quotas.

South Africans remain clear that merit must trump every other factor when national squads are picked. A July 2025 Social Research Foundation (SRF) poll asked whether teams should be chosen strictly on ability. Sixty percent said yes, 24% favoured a blend of merit and transformation targets, and only 14% supported enforced quotas.

The preference for merit was consistent across provinces and political affiliation, with 55.0% of ANC voters and 63.0% of DA voters in agreement. This pattern mirrors demands in other areas of public life: accountability, value for money, and concrete performance.

Coaches interviewed in the same survey argued that transparent, merit-based selection creates healthy competition and incentivises youth development programmes. Fans surveyed linked winning records to economic benefits such as stadium attendance, broadcasting deals, and township retail sales. In effect, people recognise that successful teams feed into broader social progress by inspiring participation and attracting investment to grassroots sport.

Policymakers who wish to advance inclusion therefore have a template: strengthen school-level coaching, upgrade facilities, and expose young athletes to elite competition. Veneer fixes that privilege race over readiness will not do. The data set a high bar for sporting authorities. They can meet it by building a pipeline of talent rather than manipulating the final selection sheet.