Take the knee, fly the flag at half mast, wear the black armband. Do what it takes to encourage national unity in a country suffering the daily scourge of femicide and women abuse, hammered by unemployment and financial distress in a pandemic-hit year, and so much more.

While certain media are calling for the Proteas to take a knee against England, I would like to see South Africa and England wear black armbands in support of efforts to counter Gender Based Violence, as 16 days of activism gets underway.

Starting today, President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for five days of national mourning, and for flags to fly at half-mast to remember those who have lost their lives to COVID-19, gender-based violence and femicide.

This is the ideal time for the Proteas, as ambassadors of this country, to show support for national initiatives.

I am impressed with the proactive work by the Gauteng Cricket Board, who will shoulder the #ENDFEMICIDENOW campaign on their playing shirts.

It would be great to see these kinds of efforts carried forward by the Proteas on a national stage. There is also an opportunity for flags to be flown at half-mast at both Newlands and Boland Park during the tour.

There are reports doing the rounds that England may take a knee in the upcoming series against the Proteas, and that the South Africans have said that they won’t. I would like to believe that there is a misunderstanding.

A decision to take the knee to support a cause as big as BLM should be made in unison by both CSA and the ECB. I doubt it will be a case of South Africa being one-upped by England in their own backyard.

Four months ago, Lungi Ngidi single-handedly stood up to former players who attacked his support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

At the same time, when cricket got underway in South Africa again after the lockdown, players and officials took a knee during the 3TC Solidarity Cup, wearing Black Lives Matter armbands.

Now, Ngidi along with his team mates, have a noose around their necks, to either take a knee or be damned. What is this unreasonable pressure on this team really about?

The game is battling at all levels, yet some in the media are obsessed with whether the Proteas will take the knee? Are the media pursuing investigations around what impact BLM is having on the ground? Maybe I missed it.

If we are just using BLM for outrage journalism, then it devalues the daily efforts of so many at the coal face, like young cricket coach, Sandile Lukhele, who is changing the women’s game with limited resources.

Sandile Lukhele Changing Lives In Rural Areas

Change is everyone’s business and the biggest challenge facing CSA is the slow pace of change at provincial and lower levels. Why don’t we hear more about this in the media?

Black Lives Matter every day, and the media should be holding the entire game accountable, not just CSA and the Proteas on the periodic occasion of a big tour.

I would like to see the achievements of BLM efforts prominently displayed on the big screen at grounds in South Africa whenever cricket is played. For me, this would enhance the cause alongside teams and officials taking a knee before a match dedicated to BLM.

This would remind everyone that Black Lives Matter every day, making it clear that change is non-negotiable.

We need to start truly investigating and reporting on the state of the game from grassroots to elite and hold all leaders accountable for change.

A more balanced view of South African cricket is needed and new voices need to enter the fray. Enjoyed interacting with powerful new voices in the game, in last night’s first virtual #SIXOFTHEBEST. Exciting times!