Friday, December 15, 2023
South Africans will celebrate South Africa's sporting achievements and the Springboks' World Cup victory on Friday after President Cyril Ramaphosa declared December 15 a public holiday.
In October, the Boks achieved a historic victory against New Zealand in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final in Paris.
The Boks are the only national team to win the Rugby World Cup four times.
Immediately after the victory, following public calls for a public holiday to celebrate victories and sporting achievements in true South African style, President Ramaphosa, in his address to the nation, announced that the public holiday would only be held after final university exams. said.
“In celebration of the great achievements of the Springboks and the achievements of all other sporting men and women, and in honor of the determination to unite our country, I declare Friday 15 December 2023 a public holiday.
“We declare this day to be a day of hope, a day of celebration and unity. The men and women of our sport have shown us what is possible. We will succeed and leave no one behind,” President Ramaphosa said.
2023 has been a banner year for South African sport and its stars. Notable achievements include:
- The Springboks won the Rugby World Cup in October.
- Banyana Banyana followed up their maiden victory at the Women's African Cup of Nations in 2022 with a place in the finals of the FIFA Women's World Cup (the first senior South African football team to reach the finals).
- KG Monjan became the first South African woman to win the French Open title in 40 years when she won the wheelchair doubles final with Japanese partner Yui Kamiji in June.
- South African swimming sensation Tatiana Schoenmaker won her first world title at the World Aquatics Championships in Japan in July.
- South Africa's Special Olympics team returned home with 22 gold medals, 20 silver medals and seven bronze medals from the Special Olympics World Games held in June.
- South Africa successfully hosted the Netball World Cup, the first ever to be held on African soil. The competition was held from July to August.
- Momentum Proteas (South Africa Women's National Team) reached the final of the Women's T20 World Cup in Cape Town in February.
- The Proteas reached the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup in India in November.
Earlier this week, the president called on South Africans to come together to “remember everything we love about South Africa” in a national newsletter.
The President called on South Africans to set aside a special public holiday to celebrate the Springboks' historic victory at the Rugby World Cup.
“Their victories, along with the many other achievements of South Africans on the world stage, are a reminder of the immense strength of our country and its promise.
“Let us come together on Friday to remember everything we love about South Africa. May it be a day of hope, celebration and unity. As we prepare for a successful new year, we wish all South Africans a safe and peaceful “I hope you have a peaceful Christmas season,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za