Capetonians turned out in their tens of thousands on Monday to salute the victorious Springboks on the final leg of their national victory tour.
There were scenes of near-hysteria as the Boks made their way through the city centre in an open-top bus.
Businesses shut down, and young and old lined the streets, crammed on to balconies — some even stood precariously on building ledges to get a view of their heroes.
As it made its way down Adderley Street, the bus was followed by a screaming throng of fans, arms stretched out as if in adulation, but in fact recording the scene on their cellphones.
Farah Ahmed, who declined to reveal her age, abandoned her pavement boerewors stand to join the crowd, a South African flag clutched in one hand along with her cellphone. In the other was a bunch of ten long-stemmed roses, which — with help from others in the crowd — she tossed up one by one to the players as the bus came past.
One of the blooms was caught by prop forward Jannie du Plessis.
Ahmed was wearing a green top and green headscarf, plus green-framed glasses, which she said was only coincidence.
”They deserve these flowers, they do … I’ve been a Springbok [fan] since I was a child,” she said. ”I have been overseas, but this is my country. Ek bly ‘n Bok [I remain a Bok].”
Someone also managed to jam a Protea into one of the wing mirrors of the bus.
Many people made special trips in from the Cape Flats for the occasion, including grandmother Susan February (58), who was wearing a green jersey with the legend ”bok befok” on the back.
She said she, her daughter and three small grandchildren, all with her in Adderley Street, were Bok fans.
”They are part of our community, the green and gold,” she said.
Her favourite player was wing Bryan Habana.
”He’s a good try-scorer, he’s a good runner. Kort en kragtig is hy [he is short and powerful],” she said.
Nor did she think there was any need for racial transformation of the team.
”It’s fine like it is; it’s a good team. They deserve the cup, they played hard.”
Earlier the Boks made an appearance on the balcony of Cape Town’s city hall, the same balcony, the city was at pains to point out, from which former president Nelson Mandela delivered his first public address after his release from prison.
Thousands of fans thronged the Grand Parade below the balcony, waving flags and cheering as the air filled with ticker tape, gold foil and hundreds of gold and green balloons.
Bok captain John Smit, holding up the gold Webb Ellis Trophy, told the crowd that it had been a ”huge privilege” to represent the country in the world cup.
”This is not our cup, it is South Africa’s cup,” he said.
There was a massive cheer when former Western Province player Percy Montgomery, his young daughter on one arm, thanked everyone for their support.
”I know we’ve worked hard … but we could never have done it without you guys,” he said.
Mayor Helen Zille, wearing a Bok jersey, also spoke, saying it was wonderful to welcome the Boks to the city.
”We are a winning nation,” she said. — Sapa