Cabinet praises Team SA's performance at IAAF

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Cabinet has congratulated Team South Africa for their outstanding performance at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships, saying they carried the national flag with distinction.

“Their performances showcased the sporting prowess of our nation which is an inspiration and motivation to all South Africans, especially young budding athletes,” said Communications Minister Ayanda Dlodldo on Thursday.

The team’s outstanding performance earned South Africa third place on the medals table at the games held in London.

Team South Africa accomplished three gold medals through Caster Semenya, who won in the women’s 800m race, Wayde van Niekerk, who won in the men’s 400m race and Luvo Manyonga, who won in the men’s long jump. 

Van Niekerk also won South Africa’s only silver medal in the men’s 200m, while Ruswahl Samaai won a bronze medal in the men’s long jump and was joined by Semenya, who won a bronze medal in the women’s 1 500m race. 

Briefing the media following their regular Cabinet meeting, Minister Dloldo said these athletes did the nation proud.

“We call on South Africans to continue supporting all our national teams, as well as our sportsmen and women. They are an embodiment of our great nation, and we have no doubt that they will inspire other young people to follow in their footsteps.”

The Minister went on to pay a special tribute to Semenya.

“Caster Semenya has done the country proud amidst the negativity. She remains strong and resilient,” said Minister Dlodlo.

She added that Semenya is following in the footsteps of Zola Budd, Natalie du Toit, the Paralympian, and Penny Heyns the swimmer.

Cabinet also congratulated Senamile Masango who became the first African woman to conduct the first African-led experiment at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research laboratory in Switzerland.

She was part of a group of student researchers from the University of the Western Cape studying the isotope selenium-70 to better understand how its nuclei shape relates to its energy levels. -  SAnews.gov.za