What if you were told the euphoric energy that recently swept across South Africa could be felt once again in just a few months and we wouldn’t need to wait for the next sporting world cup to feel it again? It’s worth looking forward to, isn’t it?
After we all stayed up late, proudly donned our green and gold rugby jerseys, sang the national anthem in unison as it echoed in Paris, and rallied behind our beloved Boks during the weekend, a fellow South African took to Facebook to remind us of our “next big group assignment in 2024” — the upcoming national elections.
She passionately called on all South Africans to take their voices, zeal and powerful spirit to the voting stations.
What we witnessed on that Saturday was nothing short of beautiful. From the very first note of the national anthem, it was evident that everyone was wholeheartedly behind the Boks. While they were undoubtedly nervous, there was an air of expectancy for a positive and fruitful outcome.
Even those who knew little about the sport — diehard soccer and cricket fans, many of whom couldn’t explain a scrum or a try and had never heard of Faf or Pollard before the tournament — set aside their excuses about not understanding the rules of rugby to stand in solidarity with those who did. It was the proudly South African thing to do.
From the moment the game started, many watched it standing up, as sitting down seemed out of the question. As South Africa led from the beginning, no-one took a moment to relax. The entire nation held its collective breath, hoping for that final whistle that would etch history.
The Springboks’ victory taught us a beautiful lesson: we are indeed ‘stronger together’, and we are even stronger when we unite in pursuits that bring us closer to our goals.
After the final whistle, the entire nation erupted in jubilation. People embraced each other, transcending differences of colour, creed and ethnicity. Voices were raised in jubilation, and tears of joy flowed freely. In places like Durban, where the cold weather had set in, the streets came alive, and the celebrations showed no signs of stopping.
The players’ undeniable sweat and effort on the field conveyed a clear message: they weren’t just playing for themselves and their families but for millions of South Africans at home. This was true patriotism.
The Springboks’ victory taught us a beautiful lesson: we are indeed “stronger together”, and we are even stronger when we unite in pursuits that bring us closer to our goals.
Wouldn’t it be beautiful if, as a nation, we carried this same spirit, zeal and patriotism to the polls in the upcoming elections? We cannot leave it to a select few simply because we may have lost hope or believe that change won’t happen in our lifetime.
Looking at all the iconic Springbok wins in recent weeks, they happened because each player did their part, even when circumstances and the scoreboard looked discouraging. We should take these lessons with us into the 2024 national elections; we stand to lose too much if we fail.
Saturday night was a moment we will never forget. For that brief moment, our usual struggles — unemployment, load-shedding and inequality — faded into the background, overshadowed by the need to secure this historic victory.
In our first Rugby World Cup victory in 1995, the late former President Nelson Mandela once said: “Sport has the power to change the world. Sport has the power to inspire. It can unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where there was only despair.” He couldn’t have been more right.
As a nation, we can draw a great deal from this unity and use it to address the issues that affect us. This victory was for all South Africans. With so much going against us, the nation needed everyone to come together, and this unity can be replicated when we head to the polls.
If we can bring the same level of unity from the victory and work together to achieve our other goals, we can go a long way. May South Africa adopt a spirit that says, “there’s a Springbok in every one of us.” Let’s forge ahead and triumph against all odds. This attitude should be applied by everyone in their life to reap the rewards we need in the future.
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