Beyond 1995: What is South Africa's real win?
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was historic, but the nation's real victory lies in overcoming centuries of division.
South Africa captain Francois Pienaar holds aloft the Webb Ellis trophy as the rest of the team celebrate after their 1995 World Cup Final victory over New Zealand at Ellis Park on May 24, 1995 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Allsport/Getty Images)
There have been few bright, shining moments in the history of our brutal, unequal country.
Two of the brightest, though, came from sport, leading many to believe that, in a sports-crazed nation like South Africa, it was on the playing fields that society's unequal playing field would be levelled.
The first magic moment was on 24 June, 1995 in the Rugby World Cup final at Ellis Park stadium, when Joel Stransky's extra time drop put the nail in the All Blacks coffin for the most famous Springbok victory in history.
The second was just under 15 years later, on 11 June, 2010, when Bafana Bafana striker Siphiwe Tshabalala's left boot rifled a shot past Mexico's goalkeeper to score the first goal in the first Fifa World Cup tournament on African soil.
In those moments, we dreamed the impossible dream – and saw it come true.
This week, as we mark the 30th anniversary of the triumph of Francois Pienaar's Boks, the euphoria of 1995 seems far off … and our current reality a nightmare more than a dream.
ALSO READ: Weekly sports update: Proteas take on Zim, Springboks play Barbarians
With each year that passes, 1995 and all that – Nelson Mandela, 'Rainbow Nation', 'Shosholoza', call it what you will – becomes less relevant.
The majority of our population is under 30, which means they weren't even born when Madiba handed over the Webb Ellis Cup to Pienaar.
So, is it the case that the dream of greatness belongs only to the older generation?
That may well be the case… but it could also be that it was a naïve, unrealistic dream in the first place.
Overcoming more than three centuries of racebased oppression will not be achieved simply through the good vibes of a major sporting victory.
It's going to take maturity, patriotism and compromise to heal our wounds. If we get even halfway there, it will be a win.
NOW READ: 'They laid the foundation': Kolbe on 30th anniversary of 1995 World Cup win
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
8 hours ago
- The South African
Does Gayton McKenzie have a plan for 'empty' Cape Town Stadium?
Following Cape Town City FC's sensational relegation from the Betway Premiership on Wednesday, the Mother City – and the Western Cape for that matter – won't have a team in next season's Betway Premiership. That will leave the Cape Town Stadium in Green Point, built to host matches during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, empty for the 2025/26 football season. The Citizens were beaten 1-0 by Orbit College at Olympia Park Stadium in Rustenburg on Wednesday which sealed their fate. They will play in the Motsepe Foundation Championship (MFC) next season. One wonders if Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has a plan up his sleeve. McKenzie was vocal last week regarding the City of Cape Town's plan to turn part of the Athlone Stadium's parking lot into a mixed-use development. McKenzie was adamant that 'We will never allow this, never ever.' It's unclear who McKenzie meant by 'we'. He went on to add that 'we' 'have plans to attract big matches' to Athlone – without mentioning what sport he was referring to. He may now need another plan to 'attract big matches' to the Cape Town Stadium … As a reminder, Cape Town City FC won seven, drew six and lost 15 of their 28 Betway Premiership matches last season to finish 15th in the standings. They scored a league-low 15 goals and conceded 31. Durban City will replace Royal AM in the Betway Premiership next season, with Orbit College also now joining the top flight at the Citizens' expense. Unless Cape Town City FC can buy their way back into the Betway Premiership – stranger things have happened in South African football – they face a daunting task to fight their way back to the top tier. Wednesday, 11 June: Casric Stars 0-0 Orbit College Saturday, 14 June: Cape Town City FC 0-0 Casric Stars Wednesday, 18 June: Orbit College 1-1 Cape Town City FC Saturday, 21 June: Orbit College 1-0 Casric Stars Wednesday, 25 June: Orbit College 1-0 Cape Town City FC Monday, 30 June: Cape Town City FC vs Casric Stars – 15:00 Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
10 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
New Bok prop Ntlabakanye put through wringer on scrum coach Human's farm
Soon-to-be Springbok tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye has gone the extra mile in trying to keep up with the free-running Barbarians in Saturday's clash at Cape Town Stadium. Moreover, his gut-busting actions over the past few weeks will help him fit in with the Springboks. Ntlabakanye has toiled on the farm of Springbok scrum coach Daan Human and has trimmed down from about 160kg to 141kg before Saturday's clash. Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said the burly Lions prop's time on Human's farm has had the desired results. 'He went a few times to Daan's farm and stayed there for a week and Daan worked with him — with the blessing of the Lions coach and CEO — after the Lions fell out of the URC,' he said. 'Whenever there was a break, he drove to Bloemfontein, went to the farm and he dropped 15kg to 18kg. So let's hope he can now perform at Test-match level — that will be great.' Kamp Daandraad!! — Johan Erasmus (@RassieRugby) June 24, 2025 Human also put fellow prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels through an unconventional training regimen. Erasmus took to social media to post pictures of Ntlabakanye and Wessels being put through the wringer on Human's farm in Verkeerde Vlei, just more than 80km south of Bloemfontein. The coach referred to the exercise as 'Kamp Daandraad' in reference to the Springboks' jaw-droopingly infamous pre-2003 Rugby World Cup boot camp. Getting Ntlabakanye fighting fit is in the Boks' interest. Long-time occupier of the No 3 jersey Frans Malherbe is out injured for the remainder of the year and the Boks need to deepen their reserves in that position. At 26 Ntlabakanye is an investment in the Bok future when one considers Malherbe, Vincent Koch and Neethling Fouche are 34, 35, and 32 respectively. Wilco Louw, who has been laying serious claim to the No 3 jersey, is 30. Erasmus's attempt to get Ntlabakanye up to Bok speed, though radical, has been proactive. Reaching the desired mobility to fit into the demands of the Bok game plan would have been a box Ntlabakanye was required to tick before getting the selection nod. Jan Hendrik taste Kamp Staal Daan — Johan Erasmus (@RassieRugby) June 25, 2025 Erasmus places a high premium on his players getting off the deck and engaging in battles around the park. Despite bending defences on the charge and stunting opposition attacks with his firm embrace for the Lions, the 160kg version of Ntlabakanye would not have fitted the Bok mould. 'When we started looking at Asenathi two years ago, we tracked his 'battle' stats and they are up there with almost anyone,' Erasmus said. 'We then got him in with the help of Rudolf [Straeuli] and the Lions, and we said we've got to get this right.' The Lions' failure to reach the URC knockout rounds presented Ntlabakanye with the opportunity to accept Human's offer to improve his skills and fitness. The Lions' loss this season may turn out to be the Boks' gain. This Saturday Ntlabakanye appears ready to slip into a new role. In a recent interview with this writer, Ntlabakanye said he could have been a good actor had rugby not been his career choice, even proclaiming a deep admiration for actor Denzel Washington. You could argue Ntlabakanye's 'Training Day' has ensured 'He got game'.
Daily Maverick
11 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Mamelodi Sundowns aiming to be only African team in the Club World Cup knockout stage
South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns will battle against Brazilian side Fluminense during a 'winner-takes-all' final game in Group F. The clash kicks off at 9pm on Wednesday. Of the four African teams who qualified for the Club World Cup, only South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns have won the Champions League fewer than three times. Despite this, Masandawana carry the hopes of the continent as the group stage nears its conclusion. Sundowns went to the controversial US-hosted tournament alongside fellow African heavyweights Al Ahly (Egypt), Tunisia's Espérance and Morocco's Wydad Casablanca. Despite displaying some exciting soccer during the group phase, none of the three teams qualified for the round of 16. Serial South African champions Sundowns, on the other hand, are in with a great chance to be the only African team in the knockout phase. The task is simple: they must beat Fluminense. The Brazilian team occupies the driver's seat in Group F, leading the mini-league via goal difference; they are tied on four points apiece with Germany's Borussia Dortmund. This means that for Masandawana (who are on three points after their 1-0 win over South Korea's Ulsan), anything other than a victory in Wednesday night's tussle will condemn them to the same fate as their fellow African clubs. The only other hope for Sundowns would be Ulsan somehow trouncing Dortmund, while the African side draws against Fluminense. This would place Masandawana and Dortmund on four points each, but Sundowns would advance to the knockout stage on goal difference. Take control Despite being aware of the threat posed by Fluminense, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso wants his team to take control of their own destiny. This entails Masandawana eliminating the frantic pace from their second group game – when they lost 4-3 to Dortmund. 'It's not normal to concede four goals for Sundowns. With me at the helm, it's never happened. The maximum goals we suffered since I arrived at the club [in December 2024] was two, which is very rare as well. So, we played that Dortmund game in a very uncomfortable zone. But it's also not normal for any team to score three goals against Dortmund,' reasoned Cardoso. Sundowns and Fluminense play a similar style of soccer, where they love to hog the ball and make their rivals chase it around. With kick-off scheduled for 3pm at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, the heat will be a major factor. A maximum of 31°C is predicted. Cardoso said there's nothing much they can do about that, they just have to focus on what they can control. 'We know that if we concede four goals against Fluminense, we will lose the match for sure. So, we have to be more complete… We have to try to manage the game as much as possible in the moments when we have the ball, also the rhythm of the game,' Cardoso stated. 'When there's chaos in the game, it's not easy to control. I don't like chaos in games, it's not the way we like to play,' the 53-year-old added. Last African team standing Cardoso also defended the showings of African teams at the revamped World Cup, saying there are a number of factors to consider when judging the three teams that have already bowed out, particularly Al Ahly and Wydad. 'It's important to understand that the four African teams that are in the competition are in different moments… Ahly has a strong identity, but they changed their coach one month ago. Wydad also changed the coach one month ago. So those teams are still adapting to new ideas,' he said. Sundowns' Brazilian striker Arthur Sales – who Masandawana made the most expensive signing in the history of the Premier Soccer League a year ago (with a transfer of R63-million) – is looking forward to doing battle against some of his compatriots. Sales said Fluminense will not disrespect Sundowns after seeing what they are capable of doing. 'When Fluminense watched our game against Dortmund, they saw the quality we will bring to the pitch against them. It's going to be a good game because both teams play the same kind of football,' Sales said. 'All their players are good players and they are fit to play for a team as good as Fluminense. We know that the likes of Jhon Arias, Thiago Silva and Matheus Martinelli will give us a tough time, but we are ready and excited to take them on, hoping for a positive result.' The decisive tie takes place at 9pm South African time on 25 June and will be broadcast live on SuperSport 204. DM
