Springbok parade passes GCRO offices

When GCRO staff participated in the Springbok’s world cup victory parade in Braamfontein in 2019, they assumed it would be a once in a lifetime experience. As fate would have it, they got to do it again. After a nail-biting victory in France on 28 October 2023, the Springboks returned to home soil with the Webb Ellis World cup for the fourth time. Being only the second team to have won the Rugby World cup back-to-back, the Springboks embarked on a victory parade through Gauteng on 2 November. They entered Braamfontein past the iconic Wits University campus, drawing cheers from the excited crowd. Since they passed right under the offices of the GCRO, members of staff were thrilled to join the celebration once again.

Photo 1: A very excited GCRO-er, Fiona Els, ready to celebrate with the Springboks on their magnificent victory (Credit: Melinda Swift)

Photo 2: GCRO-ers waiting for the victors to arrive. From the left: Eirini Athanasopoulou (visiting scholar from the University of East Anglia, Norwich), Ruth Mohamed, Fiona Els, Gillian Marree, Sthembiso Pollen Mkhize, Melinda Swift. Back from left: Yashena Naidoo, Laven Naidoo (Credit: Dr Samia Chasi)

Photo 3: Yashena Naidoo waving the South African flag in anticipation for the Springboks to arrive (Credit: Fiona Els)

Photo 4: Trevor Nyakane lifting the Webb Ellis cup, in celebration with RG Snyman and Kwagga Smith. The GCRO offices are in the background (Credit: Yashena Naidoo)

Photo 5: Ox Nche, Cheslin Kolbe and Captain Siya Kolisi celebrating with the enthusiastic crowd (Credit: Yashena Naidoo)

Photo 6: Crowds filling the streets in Bertha street, Braamfontein, as seen from the GCRO offices (Credit: Christian Hamann)

Photo 7: The Springboks leaving Bertha street, about to cross the Nelson Mandela bridge (Credit: Fiona Els)