A Springbok World Cup Win will Give South Africa the Spring We Need
September marks the beginning of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere. With warmer days and the sense of increased optimism filling the air, the gloominess of winter should be well left behind.
However, in South Africa, nothing is quite as simple. Being the month when we celebrate our rich heritage, our excitement for Spring was dampened by returning to stage 6 loadshedding, being without electricity for up to ten hours a day – despite expecting an easing of loadshedding due to a reduction in electricity demand during warmer months. Sticking to the theme of fossil fuel energy, South Africans suffered another devastating increase in fuel prices and an Avian Flu outbreak has sent the prices of eggs through the roof.
Amidst everything, the Rugby World Cup kicked off on the 8th of September 2023, with France defeating the All Blacks – South Africa’s, Springbok National team’s greatest and most worthy rugby rival – two weeks after our Springboks handed the All Blacks their greatest defeat in their 102 year test rivalry, in a World Cup warm-up game. South Africa then went on to convincingly beat Scotland in our World Cup opener. On the 17th of September 2023, the Springboks continued their winning ways in the Group stages of the current World Cup against Romania.
These feats have taken a team – not regarded as favourites in this World Cup, despite being reigning World Champions – to garnering global attention as being strong contenders for the first national team to have four Rugby World Cups under the belt. That would make the Springboks the most successful rugby team in the world considering the global competition’s brief thirty-six-year history.
Why is this important, particularly within the context of real challenges faced by South Africans? Is the possibility and the euphoria of every Springbok victory not merely a distraction within the broader scheme of real socio-economic challenges such as deepening poverty, souring energy costs, increasing inflation and high interest rates within South Africa?
The Rugby World Cup has played a significant role in post-democratic South African history. In 1995 it united a nation, fragmented by apartheid but a year prior. When Francois Pienaar and Madiba lifted the Webb Ellis trophy for the first time at Ellis Park, a former fragmented nation dared to celebrate in unison. Twelve years later, in 2007, when we repeated the feat of recapturing the rugby championship, South Africa seemed to be going through a meteoric economic ascent. At the time South Africa represented the global promise of what could be achieved by a developing nation following a devastating past. A subsequent twelve years later, in 2019, Siya Kolosi, inspired a nation, by lifting the Webb Ellis trophy as our first black Springbok Captain, at a time when we needed true inspiration as the damage reeked by State Capture came to light and the downward spiral of current economic conditions began.
The Springboks – along with our national women’s soccer team, Banyan Banyana, who I reflect on in a prior piece – have been, and continue to be a major source of psychological upliftment for South Africans during difficult times.
A Springbok World Cup win would mean a lot more than mere fleeting joy. In a piece published on the 4th of November 2019, CNN beautifully explains why the Springbok World Cup victory was so significant: “In isolation it’s just a rugby match. The crescendo of a tournament resulting in a third etching of the words South Africa on a small golden trophy… Along the way Kolisi has represented many things to many people. Part shining example of Mandela’s vision for the Rainbow Nation, part beneficiary of a system that offers a way out – for some – of a disadvantaged majority.”
Siya Kolisi, born and raised in Zwide, a poverty-stricken township in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, showcases what can still be achieved by those burdened by poverty and the odds stacked against them. His overcoming of his circumstances should give hope to hopeless youth who battle poverty, unemployment, crime, a poor quality of education and crammed living spaces and dream for what is possible.
The CNN piece, however, continues to expand on why a Rugby World Cup win holds greater significance. After a World Cup win, like those of 1995, 2007 and 2019, our joy does not take away the real lived challenges we face. “South Africa will still be the most unequal in the world in terms of wealth distribution. The homeless will wake up tomorrow without a roof over their head. The hungry will still wonder where their next meal will come from.
Sport has the power to change the world, as Mandela once said, but it can only serve as a catalyst for change given the myriad economic and social problems South Africa faces…
…Siyamthanda Kolisi, a man who once had to train in his boxer shorts because he couldn’t afford alternatives as a boy, who watched the 2007 World Cup final win from a rundown tavern, has gone where no black South African has gone before. His team has won an epic game of rugby and with it the 2019 World Cup.
“We have so many problems in our country,” Kolisi said after the match. “But to have a team like this, we come from different backgrounds, different races and we came together for one goal. I have never seen South Africa like this. We were playing for the people back home. We can achieve anything if we work together as one.””
Beyond inspiration, PPS, an insurance company that offers a range of cover for professionals, reflected on the positive economic impact a Rugby World Cup win could have on the South African economy, as far back as the 1st of November 2019: “There’s no doubt that a tournament like the Rugby World Cup provides a boost to any products relating to alcohol and braais. Products relating to dealing with hangovers have also likely seen a jump in the bottom line. Restaurants and pubs can also benefit with patrons flooding in to enjoy a game in the presence of other fans.”
Research by PPS shows that a Rugby World Cup win will not only deliver immediate gains but could produce long-term gains as well: “A 2019 study shows that positive news sentiment “shock” can increase consumption and output while slightly reducing pricing level. While many were hopeful, South Africa definitely went into the final as the underdogs. Their magnificent win could well be classified as a positive news “shock”. Following from the study, we will likely see a positive movement in consumer goods.”
Negativity due to suppressed economic activity and fear of crime has also led many qualified and professional South Africans to leave for greener pastures elsewhere. The PPS piece also reflects on how increased positive sentiment toward the country, lessens the loss due to emigration: “One of the biggest challenges facing the country is the flood of highly qualified people emigrating over the last few years. However, we’ve also seen a vocal group rising behind the hashtag and Facebook group #ImStaying. They are focused on showing the positive side to the country. The Rugby World Cup win is emblematic of what they have been saying. It is an opportunity for all South Africans to declare that are here to work together for a better country.”
So may Siya Kolisi lift the Webb Ellis trophy on the 28th of October 2023 and lead us into a summer of content, for all our sakes!