Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhenkhesi Stofile has said South Africans would be given an opportunity to take part in a national debate regarding the Springbok emblem, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported on Thursday.
He said the debate would not only focus on the Springbok emblem, but would include all the other sports emblems in the country.
Stofile said no decision had been made regarding what form the debate would take.
However, he has confirmed that the debate would also focus on the names of all national sports teams, the broadcaster reported.
Victory tour
Meanwhile, SA Rugby has confirmed details of the Springboks’ victory tour, starting on Friday, to honour the team’s World Cup-winning performance in France. South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins has appealed to the public to join in the celebrations by wearing green and gold.
The Springboks last weekend became only the second team after the Wallabies to win the Webb Ellis trophy for a second time.
On Wednesday, government ministers attended a Cabinet meeting clad in green and gold, demonstrating the national pride that has swept the country since the World Cup victory over England.
On Saturday morning, former president and Nobel Peace Prize-winner Nelson Mandela will host the team during a brief visit to his residence in Houghton in Johannesburg.
The victory celebrations include ticker-tape parades through Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town as well as team appearances in Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth. – Sapa