Springbok rugby coach Peter de Villiers "tainted" the Springbok emblem when he openly pledged his support to the ANC, Cope Western Cape premier candidate Allan Boesak said on Thursday.

"De Villiers has tainted the Springbok emblem with the mud of party political electioneering, [but] I am sure the rest of South Africa will easily rise above this," Boesak said.

The ANC in the Western Cape released a statement on Wednesday, saying De Villiers endorsed the party at a meeting of business leaders addressed by its provincial election coordinator Chris Nissen.

"I am here to personally pledge my support for the ANC. We have come through a lot of hardship during our time and now is not the time to give up," De Villiers reportedly said.

Boesak said rugby had struggled for many years to assume its rightful position as an inclusive national sport and as a force in nation building.

"In a single incredibly irresponsible statement, Bok coach Peter de Villiers has managed to undo its progress. It is a travesty," he said.

"While de Villiers has every right to support whomever he wants, there is a code of honour and as a public figure, as the coach of a national team, he has a responsibility towards our nation to keep his own to himself."

Boesak said political ideology had no place on the sports field.

"De Villiers hould resign and stand for Parliament"

"If De Villiers has political aspirations he should resign and stand for Parliament instead."

Democratic Alliance spokesperson James Masango, said it was worth noting that the SA Rugby Union (Saru) once said it "did not consider rugby reasons only" when it appointed De Villiers as national coach.

"Perhaps this explains his decision to publicly declare his support for the ANC," Masango said.

"While the DA is wholly supportive of the democratic principle of freedom of association, De Villiers' endorsement of the ANC is an unfortunate use of his position as the national rugby team coach to pursue his personal interests."

For sport to remain apolitical, sport leaders like De Villiers had a responsibility not to use their positions to advance their own political agendas.

"By choosing to openly align himself with one party, De Villiers is defeating the country's efforts to depoliticise sport, particularly rugby, which has been at the receiving end of political interference by the ANC government.

"South Africa has come a long way to overcome political interference in sport; we must not go back down that route again," Masango said.

Freedom Front Plus spokesperson Willie Spies said De Villiers' "unusual step" to endorse the ANC so close to the election date was inappropriate and divisive.

The Springbok team was one of the few unifying symbols in South Africa.

"De Villiers' conduct now makes the Springbok team a divisive symbol. The FF Plus and other opposition parties are trying their best to fight the ANC's interference in especially rugby."

Just as politicians should not be allowed to interfere in sport, prominent sportsmen should not be allowed to abuse their positions to favour political parties, he said.

Colin Fibiger of the Christian Democratic Alliance, said De Villiers had now probably alienated many rugby supporters from the sport.

"To make a public statement regarding the issue, is highly immature however, and quite foolish for a man holding our national rugby pride in his hands," he said.