Agb Adjunkvoorsitter, Paul Roos was die kaptein van die eerste Suid-Afrikaanse rugbyspan geklee in groen en goud wat 'n toer in 1906 en 1907 na die Britse Eilande en Frankryk onderneem het. Dit was gedurende hierdie toer dat die Suid-Afrikaanse rugbyspan die bynaam "Die Springbokke" gekry het. Dit is deur die pers aan hulle gegee.
Die springbok word, soos ons nasie, soms deur baie onderskat. Rassie en sy span wat deur Siya Kolisi gelei is, het weereens bevestig dat ons as Suid- Afrikaners onsself met die springbok kan vereenselwig. Ons is aanpasbaar en kan in enige omstandighede, hetsy lowergroen grasvelde of 'n Kalahari-woestyn, oorleef.
Net soos die springbokke in troppe na mekaar omsien, is ons ook in ons onderskeie gemeenskappe interafhanklik van mekaar vir ons voortbestaan. Ons put ons krag uit die grond onder die ongenaakbare Afrika son en leef letterlik dag na dag op geloof.
Soos die springbok, smag ons na ren en uitkoms wat op die regte tyd kom. En ons word nooit deur God se genade teleurgestel nie.
English:
Handre Pollard sustained an injury during last Saturday's 32-12 win over England in the Rugby World Cup final in Yokohama. He suffered a broken cheekbone. He is a legend that showed us that, to achieve success, one must give every challenge your all, no matter what life throws your way. It's by taking the blows and facing the challenges head-on that we will prevail.
Rugby is a team sport. So is politics. You have to abide by the rules that are set out. You have to choose the best player or candidate on the basis of qualification and merit. The game plan needs to be clear. The team needs to be united, respecting their differences and their opinions. There needs to be set goals to work towards. There needs to be cohesion.
The FF Plus hereby congratulates Rassie and his team on their great achievement.
According to SA Rugby magazine, all of New Zealand ... [Interjections.]
I mentioned his name earlier.
... all of New Zealand, Ireland, England, Wales and Australia were tipped with better odds than the Boks for going all the way.
Afrikaans:
Die Bokke kan nou met trots pronk. Bokke ...
English:
... you proved them wrong, and we salute you.
To God be all the glory!
Hon House Chairperson, allow the IFP to congratulate the Springboks on their Rugby World Cup victory this past weekend in Japan. This victory is not the victory of a single team, but rather the victory of a nation who must take the life lesson offered through sport.
The Springbok victory brings my thoughts to fall upon the famous words of Helen Keller:
Alone, we can do little. Together, we can do so much.
This is truly inspirational and fitting for the Springbok victory, because it shows a team that is still busy transforming, yet is still able to achieve so much because it has a common belief.
I was once a young boxer and keen soccer player. I learnt many life lessons which taught me the value of discipline and teamwork. From this I know sport to be the single-most unifying activity.
We wish to thank the entire team, coach Rassie Erasmus and our captain, Siya "The Great" Kolisi. [Applause.] This young man makes
us proud. To bring together a nation ... May your victory be ... [Inaudible.] ... and fulfilling. Thank you.
Hon members, although this person has been speaking so much in this House, please take note that it is her maiden speech in this House.
Deputy Chairperson, even though rugby was brought to this country by murderous British colonialists, it took on a development of its own and became deeply embedded in the culture and imagination of our people, particularly those who were among the first to come into contact with colonialism.
Over the past 200 years, the culture has become so strong that, despite the many years of subjugation and marginalisation of black talent and deliberate attempts by Afrikaners to claim rugby as their own sport, our people have persisted and, against all odds, made it to this team. These talented players had been deliberately shut out of the system while a small minority of Dutch origin sought to monopolise the sport.
It is against this backdrop that we salute the brave efforts of this new generation of black rugby players who have broken all systemic
barriers against their progress. We salute Siya. We salute Cheslin. We salute Makazole. We salute Lukhanyo Am, Bongi Mbonambi, Elton Jantjies, Tendai Mtawarira. We also salute Aphiwe who we believe was strategically excluded from the game. They played valiantly in a team that included the racist Eben Etzebeth who stands accused of having assaulted black people merely because they are black.
It is because of these circumstances that the achievements of these black players stand monumental. They achieved this with known racists among them as their counterparts. May they live long to see rugby fully transformed in this country, and bring many more other trophies to this country. Thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Ryder ... [Inaudible.] It's just a pity that you are having also the English Rose.
No, no, no, that's not a rose, Deputy Chair. Can we zero the time, if you don't mind, so that we start afresh?
On Tuesday of this week I rose on a point of order to ask for this opportunity. So, to the Chairperson, the Chief Whip and the programming team, and I'm sure hon Nyambi as well, I say thank you very much for acceding to the request.
The South African rugby team, the Springboks, went to Japan with a country's hopes on their substantial shoulders, led by a giant in physical, mental and charismatic stature, our captain, Siya Kolisi. They played consistently well, timing their peak for the final.
The sportsmanship and character shown by the team as a group was remarkable.
The team consisted of a diverse group of South Africans. We were well represented. The result has been that South Africans from all walks of life came together and celebrated. People who are maybe seldom seen together were seen hugging, dancing and celebrating together in taverns, bars, homes, public viewing sites and streets around the country.
The social cohesion and nation-building project has been driven forward, very much like the creative midfield in the second half of the overwhelming 32-12 win in the final against England.
The importance of a win such as this cannot be overstated. The images of South African sports heroes leading us to victory on a world stage is something that should not be belittled.
South Africa is a marginalised country on the southern tip of the continent of Africa. Out continent is often underestimated in terms of its potential. So, when excellence is demonstrated and recognised, it should be cherished.
A win of this magnitude by a team of diverse but united players acting in unison with a common goal in mind, gives us hope in so many ways. On the sportsfield, at school, in life, as a community and as a country, we are all inspired.
We are living in difficult times in South Africa. Our economy is under pressure and our rainbow nation project has suffered as times have become harder and as divisive projects have been initiated by groups in pursuit of narrow self-interest.
The damage caused by Bell Pottinger was substantial. The polarising rhetoric of political parties that are focussed on race and division has pushed this project backwards and has pushed us backwards as a nation.
The Boks went forward as our standard bearers and it is now up to us as South Africans to heed their rallying call, to bind behind them and drive ourselves toward the goal line of a united country.
This may not yet be the united country that we dream of, but this reassertion has placed us back on the trajectory to unity.
I think it is important also to pay tribute to The Beast. Tendai Mtawarira has hung up his international boots after 117 test matches. Your role is greatly acknowledged. We salute you and wish you well in your retirement.
Afrikaans:
Elke enkele lid van die groep het bygedra, en Suid-Afrika is dankbaar aan hulle almal.
Ek wil ook vir Handre Pollard - wie vandag in die hospitaal l - alles van die beste toewens vir 'n volle en vinnige herstel van sy beserings.
English:
There will always be haters and spoilers. To the few small-minded deriders, I, in true South African fashion, merely shake my head and click my tongue: Tsk, ag shame.
We congratulate the team, Rassie Erasmus, the coaches and the support group that brought the Webb-Ellis Trophy back to South
Africa and placed South Africa in its rightful place as world champions, at a time when we really needed it.
We thank the families that stood behind them and supported them along the way.
Thank you, Bokke, for inspiring us. We are better together. We are better following your victory.
Setswana:
Re tswela pele kaofela.
Deputy Chairperson, Chairperson, hon members, fellow South Africans, starting from my right, drafters of the Constitution decided to have the National Council of Provinces. So, I would like to register that as this House, when we congratulate the good work done by the Springboks, we should write a formal letter to the SA Rugby Union, Saru, and request that the celebration should not only be in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Eastern Cape, but should also go to North West, Free state, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and Limpopo. [Applause.] So, they are truly South Africans. [Interjections.]
Last Saturday, in a small village in Mpumalanga, Block C Sebokeng, in Nkomazi Municipality, I went to bed in a place that I could proudly call my beloved country - South Africa. I was reminded of the endless possibilities that South Africa represents when our rugby team, the Springboks, defy the odds to emerge victorious in this year's edition of the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Siswati:
Sibashaye, sababeka lutsi enhloko. [Tandla.]
English:
Having triumphed over New Zealand in the semifinal match, England were the bookmaker's choice to sweep South Africa aside, but our sporting heroes had other ideas. Not only did they win, they did so comprehensively. [Applause.] We salute Siya Kolisi-led battalion, which reminded us that we can play and win together as a country. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
Siswati:
Sitawuncqoba simunye. [Tandla.]
English:
Their heroism should be a lesson to us that we can achieve more if we work as a team. Our former President, Tata Madiba once said: "It seems impossible until it is done." Indeed, ours seemed like an impossible Japanese task until Springboks hoisted aloft the Webb Ellies Cup at the end of the 80 minute encounter.
I join all of our citizens in wishing the coach, Rassie Erasmus, and the entire technical team, the captain and all the players - and all the players! - well. [Interjections.] [Applause.] And thank you for their ambassadorial role. We will draw many lessons from their unity as a team and their cohesiveness as a true South African brand. I think I can now confer on President Ramaphosa the title of prophet as he predicted the outcome long before the first ball of the day was kicked. He said: "I will come and join you in lifting the trophy."
The President said that to Siya Kolisi amid doubts that South Africa was up for the challenge. These doubts were fuelled by the fact that we have lost to New Zealand in the group stages. We are indeed the only team to have suffered a defeat in the group stages which then proceeded to be the champion in the history of the Rugby World Cup. We are the only country that has won the Rugby World Cup in three different continents - in Africa, in Europe and in Asia.
[Interjections.] Yes! We are a country of firsts, and we continue to do so under the stewardship of President Ramaphosa.
Siswati:
Sihole Mengameli!
English:
Let me also congratulate Tendai "The Beast" Mtawarira on his retirement for international test matches as it has been alluded by my colleague. I have the following words to "The Beast" Mtawarira: "A good dancer knows when to leave the stage." As the National Council of Provinces - as Parliament, we are proud of what they have done. They have promoted a true social cohesion foundation that we can use to unite the country. I thank you. [Applause.] [Interjections.]
Order, hon members. Let me just conclude by saying to you South Africans that for the next four years, you will be world champions. Don't forget that. [Interjections.] [Applause.] You are the champions of the world. With all of that said and done, I just want to inform the hon members that Parliament today also hosted the stakeholders in the men's Sector, addressing the very important issue that we have been
championing so far, the issue of gender-based violence, and also making sure that we are in preparation for next year - for the Men's Parliament to become part and parcel of the process where the men's sector will become involved in coaching our boys. This is so that in 2030, the investment that we are putting in boys will breed better men who will be able to protect our women, our children, our elders and people living with disabilities.
Debate concluded.
The Council adjourned at 17:08. -----------------------