Gayton McKenzie versus Bokkieweek

Bokkieweek has dismissed allegations by Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, saying that it will continue to wear its name, emblem, and history with pride.

McKenzie has criticised the annual Bokkieweek tournament, saying it was a racist event as it was exclusively for white Afrikaans children.

He questioned whether exclusive, race- or culture-restricted youth sporting events belong in modern South Africa.

McKenzie noted that official national sporting structures, including SA Rugby, SA Hockey, and Netball South Africa, do not sanction or align with Bokkieweek.

He highlighted that the event operates outside of the official state and national sports frameworks.

McKenzie also opposed Bokkieweek’s use of the Springbok emblem and branding, arguing that they belong to the national rugby team.

Bokkieweek, which is organised by Afrikaner-Volkseie Sport (AVS), hit back at McKenzie, saying that they will continue to wear its name, emblem, and history with pride.

Peter Stans, Chief Executive Officer of Bokkieweek, said that the name Bokkieweek and the emblem used by AVS are not recent or accidental creations.

“Both have formed part of Bokkieweek’s identity for decades. They are registered in the name of Afrikaner Volkseie Sport at the relevant state institutions,” he said.

“The name Bokkieweek has been used officially since 2001 and has formed part of the organisation’s identity for more than two decades.”

He added that the South African Rugby Union registered the word “Bokkie” as a trademark in 2010.

“AVS followed legal processes and protected its established identity. Following this process, Bokkieweek was registered as a trademark in 2024,” he said.

“The name Bokkieweek was therefore not created recently or chosen by chance. It is an established identity built up over decades.”

“The same applies to Bokkieweek’s emblem. The heraldic design used by Bokkieweek was registered with the Bureau of Heraldry on 3 April 2003.”

Before a heraldic design can be registered, it must meet the requirements of the Bureau of Heraldry and be sufficiently distinguished from existing designs.

Bokkieweek’s emblem was evaluated against these requirements and registered as a distinct heraldic design.

“The Springbok head used by Bokkieweek is therefore not the emblem of any other organisation, but its own registered heraldic design,” he said.