On the bus with the Boks: Siya Kolisi dedicates World Cup victory to resilient SA

The streets of Pretoria turned green and gold on Thursday, as supporters from across the capital flocked to the streets, waited on street corners, and ran after the Springbok tour bus as it made its way through the City of Tshwane.

The Springboks returned home from the 2023 Rugby World Cup on Tuesday, after edging New Zealand’s All Blacks 12-11 in an incredible and tense final at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis last weekend. It was a record fourth World Cup title for South Africa.

Springbok supporters met at the Union Buildings, where the team was welcomed by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister of Sports, Art and Culture, Zizi Kodwa. The parade then left for Tshwane House, for a visit with Mayor Cilliers Brink, before departing for Johannesburg.

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Supporters, many dressed in Springbok rugby jerseys and some with faces painted, came out in their numbers to cheer for the team. Some even followed the tour bus as it made its way to the various points of the tour.

Speaking at the Union Buildings, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi thanked fans for their support.

“Thank you to the people of South Africa, we as a team chose to dedicate this World Cup to the people of South Africa. You are the reason that we are where we are today. You don’t ever give up. We, as the Springboks, are very diverse like the people of South Africa, and we just wanted to show diversity is our strength in South Africa,” he said.

Kolisi said coming from different backgrounds enables the team to see challenges and life differently.

“This whole group is full of leaders. I only played a small part, there is no way I could have achieved this alone,” he said.

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Ramaphosa said the Springboks had lifted the spirit of the entire nation.

“You have united South Africa,” he added.

Ramaphosa said people who didn’t usually watch rugby got behind the boys and we’re now talking with confidence about scrums, dropkicks and tries.

Kodwa said the Springboks were a fulfillment of former president Nelson Mandela’s vision.