National Assembly Cape Town: 30 October 2007  

Thank you very much for allowing us this special sitting in the National Assembly today, in honour of our victorious Springbok rugby team. It is indeed a great privilege to have them in our midst today.

 Madame Speaker, 

Four years ago, Jake White announced to South Africa and the world - as he took over the reigns of the Springbok team - that his dream and goal was to lead the South African rugby team to World Cup glory in 2007.  

His goal wasn't going to be an easy one to achieve and the road ahead was going to be a difficult one, but he never lost focus on what he wanted to accomplish. His methodology was to nurture and develop a bunch of highly talented young rugby players, while drawing on the experience of the old hands in his team. He made the Springboks a family, a collective, the proud team they are today.  

Throughout his four year term as Springbok coach, rugby also remained the ultimate political topic, a frequent target of our frustration with the pace of transformation.  

Six months before the World Cup, the Hon Butana Komphela, even, threatened to withhold the passports of the Springbok team because the squad did not reflect transformation sufficiently. But Mr Komphela knew very well that transformation is not the responsibility of rugby players, but rugby administrators.  

But every dark cloud has a silver lining. Mr Komphela is a constant thorn in rugby's side, but the Springboks even managed to get Mr Komphela on their side as he was seen in Paris, wearing his rugby shirt and cheering on the Amabokke-bokke as they battled the English!  

And this is probably the most significant achievement of this World Cup victory in France. It has shown us how powerful rugby is as nation builder.

We must take note and build on this wonderful experience. As South Africa lifted the Webb Ellis Cup on the 20th of August 2007 - at braais and gathering places across this beautiful country of ours -  we South Africans, black or white, IFP or ANC, rich or poor, forgot our differences and stood as one to celebrate together, as a proud nation!!  

As Andrew Molefe, a Sowetan reporter, so beautifully put it: "Colour didn't matter. We hugged, cried and kissed across racial lines. Our collective blood was green." 

I would like to end this special tribute to John Smit, Jake White and the boys by repeating the words of our leader, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who following our dazzling World Cup victory said: "All South Africans are today justly proud of the Springboks. Quite simply, they represent the best of us!" 

VIVA AMABOKKE BOKKE!! VIVA! You represent the best of us! 

We are extremely proud of you! The Inkatha Freedom Party's blood will be green for years to come. We salute you!  Especially, Bryan Habana, the player of the tournament!