Congratulatory Statement by Rev. H.S. Majeke, High Commissioner of South Africa to India, to Team South Africa for their outstanding performance during the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, 3-14 October 2010

Today I am elated to boldly state that Team South Africa did the rainbow nation proud. Our dedicated, passionate, hard-working and talented team represented South Africa with aplomb, scooping a total of 12 gold medals, 11 silver medals, and 10 bronze medals. At the welcome reception I hosted at The Grand Hotel to welcome the team on Friday, 1 October 2010, I emphasised the need for the team to demonstrate their talents and also draw inspiration from a number of renowned sportsmen/women who did not let circumstances rail them off course. I urged the team to demonstrate commitment, determination and strong will to succeed so as to emerge as star performers in their chosen sporting disciplines.

I am proud to announce that Team South Africa exceeded our expectations. They competed with integrity, fairness, dedication and, more importantly, revealed the insightful truth in President Jacob G. Zuma’s constant pronouncement that South Africa is “a winning nation”. We wish to grant Team SA a proudly South African congratulation! The dual success of graciously hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup and performing excellently at the 2010 Commonwealth Games engrave 2010 as the year in which South Africa practically authenticated its credentials as a sporting nation with energetic and highly competitive sportsmen and sportswomen.

South Africa is proud to be an active member of the Commonwealth and a zealous participant in all its organs and programmes. Since its inception in 1930, the Commonwealth Games have grown to be a world renowned sporting competition with the 2010 Games seeing a total of 71 countries participating. We also note with admiration and respect that it takes proper planning, dedicated training and immense mental strength for athletes and the technical staff to catapult their team to a top 10 finish. Accordingly, we shower due praise to the Ministry of Sport and Recreation, the leadership of SASCOC, the technical staff in the different sporting disciplines that were represented here and, of course, the athletes themselves for catapulting the team to a top 5 finish with their magnificent performance. Without wavering doubt, our team deserves a standing ovation and deafening applause.

Of course, we recognise and reserve veneration for the exceptional performance displayed by other African countries. The African countries of the Commonwealth, in the spirit of the catchphrase for the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosted by South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010, proved through their performance during the Commonwealth Games that truly ‘The time for Africa has come!’  Also our extended congratulation goes to athletes from different Commonwealth nations who proved to be steadfast and brilliant competitors, especially the trophy-winning Australia who scored a whopping 170 medals in total.

On the other hand, the host country, India has proved that there is no better time for improvement than the present. Despite negative reports that gave an impression that the games would be a disaster, India managed to host, as South Africa correctly predicted, memorable games. We take our hats off to Indian athletes who gave a performance of their lives and, consequently, managed to raise enthusiasm and attendance by their constant medal-winning performance.  The athletes have opened new doors for the Indian youth enlightening that there are indeed other successful sporting disciplines besides the traditional sports India is renowned for, i.e. cricket.

Special gratitude to the government of India, the different agencies that were involved in the games, the Organising Committee and, indeed, the people of India for being excellent hosts. Many members of the South African team that I spoke to will leave India fully convinced that it is an incredible country. Most of them have vowed to return and tour different parts of this fascinating country.

As Team SA prepares for the next Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014, may they take heart from the achievements and gigantic strides earned and demonstrated at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games. They need to know that the whole of South Africa is also optimistic about prospects for a top 10 finish at the 2012 London Olympic Games. I say with full confidence that the stage has been set and that from here on Team SA can only ascend like an eagle.

For further information please contact:
Chief Director for Public Diplomacy Mr Saul K. Molobi on +27 82 940 1647, +27 12 351 0083 or email him at molobisk@dirco.gov.za .

Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation

OR Tambo Building
Private Bag X152
0001

15 October 2010