President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Monday that he may consider the possibility of establishing a public holiday if the Springboks, sometimes called simply the Boks, win the Rugby World Cup final.
"We will consider that [declaring a public holiday] when they win the final, at which I will personally be present," he said.
Earlier, Ramaphosa congratulated the team for their recent achievements. The South African team defeated the host France on Sunday, allowing them to advance to the Rugby World Cup semi-finals next weekend.
"South Africans are revelling in this incredible success that our boys have achieved in Paris", he added.
A young South Africa's rugby team fan, holding a placard reading "Go South Africa", poses on the stands of the Mayol Stadium in Toulon, southern France, on September 14, 2023, ahead of a South Africa Springboks training session during the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
© AFP 2023 CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU
Boks will face England at the Rugby World Cup semi-finals next weekend. South Africans are the current champions, who defeated England in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup takes place in France from 8 September to 28 October 2023.
The rugby team Springboks, named after a local species of antelope, have represented South Africa in international rugby union since July 30, 1891. They are currently the reigning World Champions, having won the World Cup three times – in 1995, 2007, and 2019.