In a playful gesture, President Cyril Ramaphosa teased the possibility of a ‘public holiday‘ should the Springboks triumph in the upcoming 2023 Rugby World Cup, sparking conversations and excitement among South Africans.
UPDATE: The Springboks have etched their name in rugby history, becoming the first team to win four Rugby World Cup titles.
Ramaphosa will ‘consider’ public holiday if Springboks win 2023 Rugby World Cup
The idea sprang to life following the nerve-wracking game on Sunday evening between the Springboks and France, which saw the South African rugby team pull off a narrow 29-28 victory, securing their spot in the World Cup semi-finals.
Social media was abuzz with calls for a public holiday to alleviate the stress induced by the game, a sentiment that caught the attention of the head of state, who addressed the populace on Monday morning.
The dramatic match had South Africa trailing France with a score of 22-19 at half-time, leading many to seek divine intervention, in the spirit of Nelson Mandela, for a victorious outcome for the Bokke.
The victory, hard-fought and won with the team’s ‘blood, sweat, and tears,’ did not just ensure their progression in the tournament but also provided comedic relief on social media platforms.
South Africa, as per the Public Holidays Act (Act No 36 of 1994), has 12 public holidays. The Act stipulates that if any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be observed as a public holiday.
Now, with the 2023 Rugby World Cup final scheduled for Saturday, 28 October 2023, President Ramaphosa hinted that should the Springboks emerge victorious, Monday, 30 October 2023, could potentially be declared a public holiday.
The Springboks have a storied history in the Rugby World Cup, with notable victories that have not just brought the nation together but also placed South Africa on the global rugby map.
A win in the 2023 edition of the Rugby World Cup would certainly be a moment of immense national pride, and the notion of a public holiday would arguably amplify the celebrations.
For the remainder of this calendar year, three more public holidays are slated: Day of Reconciliation on 16 December, Christmas Day on 25 December, and Day of Goodwill on 26 December, making the teased additional public holiday a topic of fervent discussion among the public.