On Saturday, the 3rd of October, South Africa’s national men’s team Springboks will play against Scotland in the 2015 IRB Ruby World Cup. This game coincides with an all important ceremony to honour Former President Nelson Mandela. The ceremony will be held before the commencement clash between South Africa and Scotland.
World Rugby informed us of their intentions and plans to honour our global icon, a legend and father of our nation Nelson Mandela by inducting him on World Rugby Hall of Fame. Its not by coincident but also consistent that World Rugby decided to honour Nelson Mandela in Scotland which its biggest city Glasgow was the first to offer him its Freedom of the City.
Nelson Mandela lived an exemplary life that all of us should aspire and emulate. He saw sport as a great tool to build and unite a nation. He embodied all values of fair play in sport; Passion, Respect, Discipline and Integrity, values that are core to the world of rugby. He demonstrated these values in how he fought against an unjust system and how he led South Africa as its first democratic president. With his love for sport and visionary leadership, he entered the Ellis Park stadium in 1995 donning the Springboks jersey not to just watch the game but to unite and reconcile a divided nation . It is for these reasons and more that World Ruby decided to honour Madiba.
Nelson Mandela always said he was not alone in fighting for the liberation and unity of South Africans. This honour then recognises the role of all South Africans who stood up against an unjust system and called for its end. It is for all peace loving South Africans who still value the power of sport in changing long held views and still see it as driver of social change.
We therefore delegated the Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation South Africa Mr Gert Oosthuizen the responsibility to represent the South African government and our people. When World Ruby inducts our icon and statesmen, the Deputy Minister will receive the honour and will be joined by former Springbok captain Francois Pienaar who was handed over the Webb Ellis Cup by Nelson Mandela in an iconic Rugby World Cup historic moment in 1995.
We convey these words of gratitude to World Ruby for recognising and acknowledging the role Nelson Mandela played in world sport. We accept this honour in the true spirit of human solidarity and building a new world order through sport.
May the Springboks see this as a motivation to win the world cup, the Madiba magic still lives on.
Enquiries:
Esethu Hasane
Tel: 012 304 5114
Cell: 071 259 2422
