President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation on Monday evening had many South Africans waiting for the announcement of a public holiday with bated breath. Close to the end of his 33-minute speech, the president indeed declared a public holiday in honour of the Springboks, but not for another month and a half.
South Africans can look forward to a long weekend as the added public holiday on 15 December falls on a Friday. “We declare this to be a day of hope, a day of celebration and unity. Our sports men and women have shown us what is possible. We will succeed and we will ensure that we leave no one behind,” stated the president. However, many wanted the break sooner rather than later.
Responding to the pleas of an earlier holiday, President Ramaphosa said in his address to the nation, “I know that many of us want us to have a holiday now to celebrate. But we should all agree that we should give our matriculants time to focus on their exams and celebrate afterwards.”
I know that many of us want us to have a holiday now to celebrate. But we should all agree that we should give our matriculants time to focus on their exams and celebrate afterwards.
In celebration of the Springboks’ momentous achievement and the achievements of all our other… https://t.co/UqjC1589IE
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) October 30, 2023
Hearing his response, many social media users urged President Ramaphosa to halt loadshedding for the matriculants just as it was done for the Springboks.
The matriculants need electricity, end loadshedding like you did for the Springboks. https://t.co/GjXIzdSIHD
— HRH Namhla 🇵🇸 (@Nampree) October 30, 2023
This performative consideration of matriculants should have come in the form of suspended load-shedding for the duration of their final exams. https://t.co/C4Vs7BRq7i
— Maphitha (@uMusa_) October 30, 2023
How must they focus when there’s no electricity to study? https://t.co/w1AnNFVLTw
— Robin 🇵🇸 🍉 (@_Robin_C_) October 30, 2023
Also see: ‘What an honour to deliver the trophy’ – Tendai Mtawarira
