Premier Mtshweni-Tsipane congratulates Springboks and Mashego for winning major titles

Byline: Refeloe Letsoisa

30 October 2023

Mpumalanga Premier, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, has joined President Cyril Ramaphosa and the nation in congratulating the Springboks for winning the Rugby World Cup in France on Saturday, 28 October 2023.

The Springboks won 12-11 as defending champions against New Zealand in a nail-biting final.

The Premier says the victory confirms South Africa as a sporting nation.

“The team’s victory is a result of resilience, vigour, and commitment to the course until the last breath.

We congratulate Captain Siya Kolisi and the entire team, including the coaching staff, for uniting our nation through such a phenomenal victory,” the Premier stated.

Four of the players in the squad are from Mpumalanga, namely: Trevor Nyakane, Kwagga Smit, Duane Vermeulen, and Faf De Klerk.

As such, Mtshweni-Tsipane says the players are examples of what Mpumalanga stands for.

“These players represent the patriotic spirit that is prevalent among the citizens of the province, of making a valuable contribution whenever a national opportunity lends in their hands.

They illustrated the commitment we uphold as a province towards the success of South Africa in all spheres,” the Premier explained.

President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Springboks team during the award ceremony. Photo Cred: Instagram_bokrugby

Mtshweni-Tsipane further congratulated Dr Claude Mashego, newly crowned Miss World South Africa. Mashego, of Bushbuckridge, is the first to win the title.

She was among the twelve (12) contestants for the title.

Mashego is now destined to contest the Miss World pageant in March next year, in India.

Mtshweni-Tsipane says Mashego’s victory is an embodiment of Mpumalanga’s pioneering spirit.

“Dr Mashego has added her name to the list of Mpumalanga citizens, whom we are proud of.

She joins several eminent citizens of our province, in various fields, who nailed the colours of Mpumalanga to the mast in an extraordinary way.

These include former Miss South Africa, Rolene Strauss, Josiah Thugwane, a gold medalist who won it in the 1996 Summer Olympics in the United States, Sibusiso Vilane, the first African to summit Mount Everest, and the players featured in the rugby squad,” Mtshweni-Tsipane emphasised.