Pretoria - Former President Nelson Mandela will posthumously be inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame ahead of South Africa’s clash with Scotland at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England, on Saturday.
“This game coincides with an all-important ceremony to honour former President Mandela,” said Sports and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula.
“World Rugby informed us of their intentions and plans to honour our global icon, a legend and father of our nation Nelson Mandela by inducting him on the World Rugby Hall of Fame.
“It’s not by coincidence but by consistence that World Rugby decided to honour Nelson Mandela in Scotland which, it’s biggest city Glasgow, was the first to offer him its Freedom of the City,” said Minister Mbalula on Friday.
The Minister said the late Madiba had lived an exemplary life that people should emulate.
“He saw sport as a great tool to build and unite a nation. He embodied all values of fair play in sport: passion, respect, discipline and integrity - values that are core to the world of rugby. He demonstrated these values in how he fought against an unjust system and how he led South Africa as its first democratic president,” said the Minister.
Minister Mbalula said with his love for sport and visionary leadership, Madiba entered the Ellis Park stadium in 1995 donning the Springbok jersey not to just watch the game, but to unite and reconcile a divided nation.
“It is for these reasons and more that World Ruby decided to honour Madiba.”
Deputy Minister Gert Oosthuizen will represent the country at the ceremony to honour Mandela.
“When World Ruby inducts our icon and statesman, the Deputy Minister will receive the honour and will be joined by former Springbok captain Francois Pienaar who was handed over the Webb Ellis Cup by Nelson Mandela in an iconic Rugby World Cup historic moment in 1995,” explained the Minister.
He conveyed gratitude to World Ruby for recognising and acknowledging the role Mandela played in world sport.
“We accept this honour in the true spirit of human solidarity and building a new world order through sport. May the Springboks see this as a motivation to win the World Cup, the Madiba magic still lives on,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
