October 26, 2007
By Ndaba Dlamini and Lesego Madumo
THEY'VE had a couple of days to recuperate, and now it's time for Joburg to welcome back the conquering rugby heroes in style, with a ticker tape parade through the city and Soweto.
Not even the rain could stop well-wishers from putting on their green and gold again, waving their flags aloft, and trumpeting their vuvuzelas as the winners of the Webb Ellis trophy rode across the CBD in an open-top double-decker bus – hoisting the coveted cup for everyone to see.
The bus travelled slowly to allow everyone a chance to see the players and catch a glimpse of the trophy. The victory parade took the whole day on Friday, 26 October.
The team breakfasted with the president at the Union Buildings, before parading through Pretoria.
At the Union Buildings, rugby chiefs announced that the Boks would add Soweto to their nationwide World Cup victory parade after an outcry over a decision to bypass the country's biggest township.
Joburg welcomes the Springboks
(Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)
SA Rugby president Oregan Hoskins reportedly said, "Tomorrow morning [Saturday, 27 October] our team, the coach, the manager, the captain … are going to Soweto."
On its Joburg leg, the parade swung past Vodaworld in Midrand, along the M1 South to Rosebank, to the head offices of their sponsor, Sasol.
From Rosebank, the bus made its way back on to the M1 South, taking the Joe Slovo offramp and heading into the city centre.
"The City of Joburg is proud to welcome die Bokke and applaud them for their gallant display; [and also] for rekindling our pride and showing the world that we are a winning nation," said Nthatisi Modingoane, the City's media liaison officer.
"We congratulate the South African rugby team on their triumph. This clearly demonstrates that there is no such thing as great talent without great will power."
The convoy were greeted by hundreds of cheering fans in the CBD at Absa's head office. With the rain not letting up, fans lined the streets, some even running behind the bus - ecstatic to see their heroes.
As the double-decker bus ground to a halt in front of the Absa Towers, the obvious hero of the crowd, Bryan Habana, opened a bottle of champagne and sprayed the frenetic crowd.
"I have been standing in the driving rain an cold since 1pm. But it's been worth it because I got to see the Boks in person today," said Sipho Mkhize waving a green and gold flag.
Everytime one of the Boks stopped to lift the trophy bystanders shouted lustily.
As the bus drove off into Troye Street on its way to Braamfontein, some fans couldn't resist following, some singing and blowing vuvuzelas.
The Springboks' day will end at Bok City at Montecasino in Fourways for the end-of-parade party.
"We wish Amabokoboko well in all future rugby," Modingoane added.
The bus makes it's way through the CBD
Metro police officers were on hand to help out where necessary. Chief superintendent Wayne Minnaar, the spokesman for the Johannesburg metropolitan police department, said that his department would deploy hundreds of officers to escort the Springboks through Joburg. "We are going to have hundreds of officers to control the traffic and help our world champions to enjoy their Joburg tour."
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