As South Africa marked the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising this Youth Day, PURA Beverage Co joined community members in Soweto for the Freedom Ride, a cycling event that brought together nearly 100 riders to commemorate the day.
Led by a convoy of PURA vans, cyclists travelled a 10-kilometre route through Soweto, passing landmarks including Vilakazi Street. Riders ranged from experienced cyclists to children taking part alongside family members, creating a vibrant atmosphere throughout the morning.
While the ride honoured the events of June 16, 1976, it was also a celebration of the role young people continue to play in their communities today.
For PURA Beverage Co, supporting the Freedom Ride was an opportunity to be part of a community event that reflects many of the values Youth Day represents: participation, resilience and bringing people together.
“Today was truly special as we joined the Freedom Ride in Soweto, commemorating 50 years since the Soweto Uprising,” said Jerry Matlejoane, Field Marketing Specialist at PURA Beverage Co.
“We had just under 100 cyclists parading through the streets, with children joining in as well. The atmosphere throughout the route was incredible and it was inspiring to see so many people come together to honour Youth Day in such a positive and meaningful way.”
Throughout the route, residents stopped to watch and support the riders as they moved through the streets of Soweto. Although organisers were unable to reach the Hector Pieterson Memorial due to the number of activities taking place in the area, the significance of the day remained front of mind for participants.
Fifty years after the Soweto Uprising, Youth Day continues to provide an opportunity for South Africans to reflect on the courage shown by the young people of 1976 and the impact their actions had on the country’s future.
For many of those taking part in the Freedom Ride, the day was about remembering that history while celebrating the energy and potential of today’s generation.
As the cyclists made their way through Soweto, one thing was evident: young people are still finding ways to come together, participate in their communities and play an active role in shaping the future of South Africa.
-ENDS-
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Media Enquiries Kerry du Toit for PURA Beverage Company Email: [email protected] | Tel: 082 881 1843
The book was launched at Exclusive Books Sandton City on the 11th of June. The Hell Inside Our Heads was written by Brandon Fairweather, Brand Manager for Biogen South Africa, and he also fulfils a dual strategic role as Health Category Marketing Manager for Dis-Chem Pharmacies. He has more than two decades of experience in wellness, sports nutrition, and consumer health, yet this book is not written from the theory, it is bravely written from his own lived experience with crippling anxiety.
“We are not just launching a book, we are launching conversations that we’ve avoided for far too long. Because the truth is, every single one of us here is battling some kind of silent struggle, whether we like to admit it or not. Some of us wear that struggle openly. Some of us hide it behind humour, confidence, perfection, productivity, work, whatever it is,” said Jon Boynton-Lee the emcee and close friend of Fairweather. The two were talking about impossible dreams over coffee and Fairweather’s impossible dream was to write a book and Boynton-Lee’s was to write and star in a movie. A couple of years later, they have both done it.
Born with a congenital aortic valve defect, Fairweather was always destined for open-heart surgery but never expected to need it at just 28 years of age. Following the successful heart surgery, he experienced several further complications, including a stroke ten years later, followed by a devastating, life-threatening loss of blood in the same year. Adding insult to injury was a brutal cancer diagnosis in 2023, after a misdiagnosis the year before, and a successful fight to remission.
Fairweather said, “The book is about a simple idea that changed my life. It’s about a mission to share a message with as many people as possible and hopefully make their journeys through life just a little bit lighter. That idea found me at the lowest point in my life, where I experienced debilitating levels of anxiety to the point that I just made a decision that this can’t be for nothing. And I think that’s become a central theme of this book is to turn pain into purpose and to use your adversity for your advantage.”
This is an inspirational journaling of thoughts and a discovery of meaning and peace born from the depths of severe anxiety. The aim of this book is simple: to feel healed, healthy and stronger, while offering practical, effective lessons to navigate mental health struggles with greater ease.
This deeply personal account of life at the height of severe anxiety combines vulnerability, authenticity, humour, and practical solutions to help manage day-to-day anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. It’s a patient’s perspective, filled with golden nuggets of coping mechanisms and processes aimed at short- to medium-term peace and recovery.
It’s honest. It’s raw. It’s deeply human. And above all, it’s hopeful.
Fairweather reassured attendees that he did intend to write a second book, The Hell Inside Our Heads, Sports Edition, a story worth telling, around high performing athletes and coaches and the mental struggles they content with, and rise above.
The book is intentionally structured as a non-profit project, with all proceeds redirected toward purchasing additional copies for donation and support for nominated charities in time.
Available from Exclusive Books, Estoril Books, selective Bargain Books and Reader’s Warehouse, Takealot, Amazon, Loot.co.za also available on e-readers via Amazon Kindle and Apple Books and https://traceymcdonaldpublishers.com
Hollard has donated R1 200 000 to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation, with every rand raised by the purple speedo-clad heroes who took part in the 2025 Daredevil Run. At the same event, the 2026 campaign was officially launched and South African men will be called upon to lace up, strip down and do it all again!
Seventeen years in and the Hollard Daredevil Run shows no signs of putting its trousers back on. Under this year’s tagline “Lekker Balls; Lekker Life”, the 2026 cheque handover and campaign launch took place today at Hollard Campus in Parktown, Johannesburg.
The R1.2 million raised in the 2025 Hollard Daredevil Run was formally handed over to CANSA and the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) to fund awareness campaigns, Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening and patient support. “The Hollard Daredevil Run is an unforgettable experience that raises awareness in a fun, engaging manner and sparks dialogue about men’s health in a non-threatening way,” says Hazel Chimhandamba, Group Chief Marketing Officer at Hollard.
“In 2024, we raised R1 million, 100% of which went directly to supporting prostate and testicular cancer awareness programmes. We are incredibly grateful to every Daredevil who dared to run in a purple speedo. It takes a special kind of bravery to turn heads for something that truly matters. Because behind all the laughs is a very serious mission: getting more men to check in on their health and each other,” adds Hazel.
The stakes are real. Prostate cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in South African men. One in eight men is expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, with Black African men facing a 60% higher risk than other population groups. South Africa’s mortality rate due to prostate cancer is particularly high, largely due to underscreening, sociocultural stigmas and lack of health education.
Testicular cancer, while less widespread, is most common in young men aged 15-49, affecting approximately 1 in every 250 males. When caught early, it is highly treatable. A two-minute self-examination can detect lumps, swelling, or changes early, that’s considerably less time than it takes to run 5km in a purple speedo and the payoff is just as big.
A simple Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test for men over 40 can detect elevated protein levels before a single symptom appears. “The Hollard Daredevil donation is the largest single donation the PCF receives each year,” says Andrew Oberholzer, CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of South Africa. “The funds help PCF distribute accurate, multilingual educational material and keep free PSA screening programmes running nationwide.”
He goes on to say that the run has also contributed to the development of South Africa’s first comprehensive prostate cancer registry, launching in 2026, which will track incidence, treatment and outcomes. The campaign further funds PCF’s helpline and support networks for men and families navigating a diagnosis.
Lorraine Govender, National Manager: Health Programmes of CANSA states, “The Hollard Daredevil Run has become far more than a fundraising event – it’s helped build a national movement that encourages men to speak openly about their health and seek help sooner. We are incredibly grateful to Hollard and every participant whose courage and commitment enable CANSA to continue providing awareness, early detection, screening and support services to men across South Africa.”
The event returns to Zoo Lake in Johannesburg on Friday, 23 October at 3pm with participants elsewhere able to register and run in their own neighbourhoods, workplaces, schools or universities anywhere in the country.
Registrations for the 2026 Hollard Daredevil Run open from 1 July and tickets will be available from Ticketpro at R200, which includes the courier of a registration pack and a complimentary purple speedo.
Thapelo Maseko’s football fairytale found its perfect chapter on Thursday night as the winger firedBafana Bafana into the FIFA World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in the nation’s history.
The 63rd-minute strike secured a tense 1-0 victory over South Korea in Guadalupe and ensured Hugo Broos‘ side advanced to the Round of 32, where Canada await.
A defeat, a draw, a win – the journey of Bafana Bafana in Group A that sees them end on 4 points, 2nd behind co-hosts Mexico. South Africa make history by advancing to the Round of 32 at a FIFA World Cup for the first time ever#BafanaPride#BafanaBafana#FIFAWorldCuppic.twitter.com/DFgCXYOeLd
For Maseko, the moment carried far greater significance than a place on the scoresheet.
Not long ago, the former Mamelodi Sundowns winger was battling injury, struggling for minutes and questioning whether his career was heading in the right direction.
Now he owns a piece of South African football history.
“Moments like these make every difficult day worthwhile,” said Maseko after collecting the Player of the Match award.
“There were times when things did not go according to plan, but I kept believing. This team never stopped believing either. To score a goal that helps South Africa reach the next round is something I will always treasure.”
The goal arrived after a lively display from Bafana, who created the better chances throughout the match. Tshepang Moremi’s delivery found Maseko inside the area and the winger made no mistake, calmly steering the ball beyond goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu.
The strike was the reward for South Africa’s attacking intent, something Broos had demanded from the outset.
The veteran Belgian coach made one of his boldest decisions of the tournament by handing Relebohile Mofokeng a first World Cup start. The youngster responded with a mature performance, linking midfield and attack while helping Bafana control large periods of the contest.
Broos admitted qualification ranks among the proudest achievements of his tenure.
“This group deserves enormous credit,” said Broos.
“The players showed courage, discipline and belief. We knew what was required and we approached the game with confidence. Making history for South African football is something very special.”
The coach’s tactical gamble paid off handsomely. South Africa registered 11 first-half attempts and consistently asked questions of a South Korean side that arrived knowing a draw would likely be enough.
Kavanagh (25), who grew up in Hillcrest in KwaZulu-Natal, will enter the race wearing the leader’s bib in the series and carrying the weight of expectation. Yet the road ahead resembles a tightly packed peloton rather than a solo breakaway. Every stride onSunday’s 10km Challengecould reshape the championship landscape.
The Hollywood Athletics Club athlete says her training has gone well and is excited to test herself against a strong field again.
“I feel strong at this stage of the season,” said Kavanagh.
“Every race is an opportunity to build momentum and consistency. I like to focus on one opportunity at a time. I always give each race my full focus and try do my best on the day”
Despite her strong start, Kavanagh is taking a measured approach to the championship battle.
“My goal is to race smart and hopefully execute a good race to achieve the best possible result on the day”
Durban’s beachfront route has often been a theatre of drama and this year promises another chapter rich in intrigue.
The absence of defending SPAR Grand Prix champion Glenrose Xaba, who is racing in the United States, opens a wider lane for the contenders. More, Sosibo and Kayla Jacobs remain within striking distance after collecting maximum bonus points in Cape Town. Meanwhile, Nedbank’s Ethiopian aceSelam Gebre finally joins the series after visa complications sidelined her from the opening race. She will be hunting valuable points with the hunger of an athlete eager to make up lost ground.
The format of the competition, with the final points based on an athlete’s top four races, means that runners can miss one of the five SPAR Challenges and still be in contention for the top prize of R210 000.
Selam Gebre- Ethiopian star, Selam Gebre (Nedbank) will be one of the favourites for the 10km SPAR Women’s Challenge Durban on Sunday 28 June 2026. Photo credits: Ashley Vlotman/ Gallo Images
The Grand Prix format adds another layer of suspense. With only an athlete’s best four results counting towards the final standings, one missed race is not a fatal stumble. It keeps the title race alive and turns every Challenge into a tactical chess match played at racing speed.
The age category battles are also simmering nicely. Elizabeth Potter, Nerida Lubbe and Janene Carey share early momentum in the 50-59 division after securing maximum bonus points in Cape Town. In the 60-69 category, defending champion Judy Bird, Dalene Sonnekus, Ester Brink and Suzanne Marais have already signalled their intentions.
Beyond the stopwatch, the event continues to champion causes greater than sport. A portion of every entry will support iThemba Lethu, an organisation dedicated to uplifting and nurturing young lives in eThekwini.
“The SPAR Women’s Challenge is so much more than a race,” said SPAR National PR, Communications and Sponsorship Manager Mpudi Maubane.
“It is a platform – one that brings together sport, community, empowerment, and purpose in a way that few properties in South Africa can.
“Whether it is our elite athletes competing for SPAR Grand Prix glory, a first-time 5km entrant crossing the finish line, our beneficiary organisations receiving life-changing support, or our campaigns against gender-based violence and period poverty – every single element of this property has one thing in common: celebrating and empowering women. And that is very close to SPAR’s heart.”
The event’s partnership with Hyundai adds another incentive, with an Exter SUV up for grabs in the lucky draw.
Sunday’s route starts on Masabalala Yengwa Avenue and finishes at the outer fields of Kings Park Rugby Stadium. According to Race Director Brad Glassspoole, the course is relatively flat but sprinkled with enough twists, turns and subtle elevation changes to keep runners honest.
“Supporting the SPAR Women’s Grand Prix aligns with our commitment to a healthier, more active South Africa,” said Hyundai Chief Executive Stanley Anderson.
“Regular exercise builds strength, confidence and community – the same values we strive to embody as a brand.”
As Durban prepares to lace up for another celebration of women’s running, Kavanagh stands at the front of the field. The question is whether she can stretch her advantage or whether the chasing pack will turn the Grand Prix race into a full-blown sprint to the finish.
Siya Kolisi has spent his rugby career breaking tackles and barriers.
Last week in London, the Springbok captain helped break another significant milestone as Steadfast Africa‘s annual fundraising gala generated R2.5 million (£108,000) for the Kolisi Foundation and the Good Work Foundation.
Hosted at the historic Chelsea Physic Garden on 16 June, the event brought together philanthropists, business leaders and supporters committed to backing community initiatives in South Africa. With an online auction and raffle remaining open until 8 July, organisers expect the total to grow further.
For Kolisi, the evening was about something far greater than the impressive figure on the fundraising scoreboard.
“I am not a self-made man,” said Kolisi.
“I am here because people invested in me. They saw something in me, opened doors for me, and gave me opportunities I could never have created on my own.
“Today, through the Kolisi Foundation, we want to do the same for others. Partnerships like this one with Steadfast Africa and the Good Work Foundation remind us that lasting change is never the work of one person or one organisation. It is built by people who choose to invest in the potential of others.”
While his achievements on the rugby field have become part of Springbok folklore, his foundation has quietly built a growing footprint in communities across the country. Guided by the values of dignity, hope and unity, the organisation focuses on food security, education, youth empowerment, sport and raising awareness around gender-based violence.
The gala’s fundraising auction proved one of the evening’s biggest attractions, with guests competing for luxury safari experiences, exclusive travel packages and premium hospitality offerings from across Southern Africa.
The Good Work Foundation, Steadfast Africa’s other long-standing beneficiary, continues to bridge the digital divide in rural communities through education and skills development programmes.
Chief executive Kate Groch said the success of the event highlighted the strength of collaboration.
“Good Work Foundation is able to serve the communities we work in and do the work we do because of the support of our partners; they are an integral part of our Pink family.
“This was again shown at the amazing Steadfast event held in London. Thank you from myself and the entire GWF family. Thank you to everyone who organised, attended, donated and made the event so successful.
“We are grateful for our partnership with Steadfast and how it continues to grow. Together we will continue to do Good Work and reimagine education and opportunity for young rural South Africans.”
In rugby, captains are often judged by the trophies they lift.
Yet evenings such as this suggest his most enduring legacy may be measured not by silverware, but by the opportunities created for others long after the final whistle has sounded.
Sinesipho Dambile arrived in Doha chasing another strong performance. He left with a Diamond League trophy, a personal best and a place in South African athletics history.
The 24-year-old stormed to victory in the men’s 200m over the weekend night, clocking a career-best 19.74 seconds to claim his maiden Diamond League title.
In the furnace-like conditions of the Qatari capital, with temperatures hovering around 37°C and a legal tailwind of 1.8 m/s, Dambile produced a race that was equal parts power and precision.
Running in lane five, he exited the blocks cleanly and attacked the bend with purpose. By the time the field straightened up for the home run, the South African had already edged ahead.
Zimbabwe’s Makanakaishe Charamba and Dominican Republic’s Alexander Ogando mounted a late challenge, but Dambile never looked troubled. His stride remained smooth and controlled as he powered clear over the closing metres.
The clock stopped at 19.74 seconds, trimming 0.03 seconds off his previous best and confirming the rich vein of form he has carried throughout the season.
“This is my fourth Diamond League event. I am having the best season of my life thus far. I am still building and can get even better,” Dambile said afterwards.
The result is another significant step for an athlete whose ambitions stretch well beyond Doha.
“I want to get gold at the Commonwealth Games and then go to the Ultimate Championships. I’ve never been to the Commonwealth Games before and would like to experience it. I’m also looking forward to the final Diamond League in Brussels.“
His triumph completed an unprecedented South African sprint clean sweep across the Diamond League circuit this season.
Gift Leotlelaopened the account in the 100m in Shanghai. Zakithi Nene followed in the 400m in Stockholm. Dambile’s Doha victory ensured South Africa has now produced Diamond League winners across all three major sprint distances in the same season for the first time.
The country’s sprint programme has often promised much. In 2026, it is cashing in those promises.
An Athletics South Africa spokesperson hailed the achievement.
“Sinesipho’s performance is a testament to the talent, commitment and growing strength of South African sprinting. His success reflects the progress being made across the sprint events and serves as inspiration for aspiring athletes across the country.”
With Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games and September’s Ultimate Championships looming, Dambile’s season is gathering momentum.
For now, the fastest thing in Doha was not the tailwind. It was a South African sprinter finding another gear.
With two kilometres remaining, George Kusche glanced at the race clock for the first time all day.
The display showed roughly 5:08.
His body felt like a battered vehicle limping home after a cross-country expedition. His left calf had been threatening mutiny for more than 30 kilometres. Every stride sent warning signals through weary muscles. The road tilted and twisted ahead like a mischievous serpent refusing to surrender its final secrets.
Yet something curious happened.
The mathematics suddenly made sense.
“I remember thinking, if I run 10 minutes in these last two kilometres, I’m still going to run 5:18.”
For most runners, that would be astonishing pace after nearly 86 kilometres.
For Kusche, it was a moment of realisation.
History was waiting at the finish line.
The remarkable part is that he still wasn’t thinking about winning.
“I thought to myself, I can’t think about anything else now. I need to focus on putting my foot in front of the other and running as fast as I can.”
That fear may have been his greatest ally.
Because while many runners arrive at Comrades armed with bravado and bold predictions, Kusche approached the race like a scientist approaching an unsolved equation.
Carefully.
Methodically.
Relentlessly.
And in doing so, he produced one of the greatest performances the race has ever witnessed.
THE UNDERDOG WHO WAS NEVER CHASING A TROPHY
When Kusche crossed the finish line at Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg, the clock stopped at 5:15:56.
The time demolished Russian Leonid Shvetsov’s 18-year-old Up Run record of 5:24:49 by almost nine minutes.
It also delivered the fastest average pace ever recorded in the history of the Comrades Marathon.
Yet the journey began not with victory but with disappointment disguised as success.
A year earlier, the former NCAA athlete had finished 12th in his Comrades debut.
Many runners would have celebrated.
Kusche analysed.
“On the day I knew that was the absolute best I could have done,” he said.
“But I know I made a lot of mistakes preparing for that Comrades because it was my first one. I was naive about what it takes to run Comrades.”
The race became a classroom.
The student paid attention.
PROJECT 2026
George Kusche at the 2026 Comrades Winners Breakfast Photo: Adnaan Mohamed
Most athletes emerging from a strong debut create a target.
Kusche created a process.
“It was Project 2026, but not to win.”
That statement sounds almost absurd after what followed.
“It was Project 2026 to focus on the process as much as I can and make sure that on June 14, 2026, I show up as the absolute best version that I could be.”
“If that means a win, then I’m happy.”
The distinction matters.
The goal was not a trophy.
The goal was optimisation.
Every kilometre became a data point.
Every session became an experiment.
Every mistake became valuable information.
THE SCIENTIST IN THE RUNNING SHOES
Away from racing, Kusche works full-time as a Data Scientist at Pepkor Lifestyle.
The numbers are woven into his DNA.
Born in Malalane in Mpumalanga, educated at Laerskool Malelane and Affies in Pretoria, he earned a Master’s degree in Statistics and passed eight Actuarial Society of South Africa examinations on his first attempt.
He coaches himself.
That revelation surprised Fordyce.
In an era overflowing with coaches, consultants and performance gurus, Kusche remains his own architect.
“I coach myself.”
His approach combines science and instinct.
“I accumulated a lot of volume, but that came over a period of a year.”
“It’s a gradual increase in both volume and intensity and elevation gain.”
“I meticulously tracked various metrics over time and ensured that they increased and peaked at the right time.“
The scientist measured everything.
The athlete listened to his body.
The combination proved potent.
THE HILL THAT BUILT A CHAMPION
Every Tuesday, a hill in Pretoria became his laboratory.
He repeatedly climbed and descended Platheus Hill.
No dramatic sprinting.
No social media heroics.
No chest-thumping workouts.
“I simply jogged up and jogged down.”
“And I just let the elevation gain do the damage it had to do.”
Slowly, the hill surrendered.
“Without increasing my effort, I could see my pace increasing and my heart rate decreasing.”
Like water carving a canyon, the work accumulated quietly until the results became impossible to ignore.
THE OVERTRAINING MYTH
As race day approached, whispers began circulating.
Some observers believed Kusche was training too much.
Even Fordyce and former champion Nick Bester had concerns.
“We said George is terribly overtrained.”
Kusche knew the rumours.
“I know about the overtraining allegations.”
His answer reflected the analytical mindset that defines him.
“You can’t look at one number and say someone’s overtraining.”
“My workouts kept improving.”
His peak week reached an eye-watering 259 kilometres.
Yet he remembers feeling restrained.
“I felt like I could have done 300.”
“I felt guilty not running more.”
The engine was humming.
The data agreed.
THE SURGES THAT BROKE THE RACE
The winning move arrived long before he took the lead.
Running within a pack, Kusche sensed comfort spreading among his rivals.
Comfort is dangerous in championship racing.
So he attacked it.
“I didn’t want the pack to be comfortable.”
Climbing Inchanga, he repeatedly surged.
Not wildly.
Not recklessly.
Simply enough to raise the temperature.
“I felt really strong.”
“I just decided to go in front of the pack and gradually increase the pace.”
The surges acted like tiny cracks in a dam wall.
Invisible at first.
Devastating later.
“After about four of those surges, I decided it’s now time to go for gold.”
The race had changed.
The field simply had not realised it yet.
FEAR ON POLLY SHORTTS
For television viewers, Kusche looked magnificent.
Fordyce remembers watching him move through Harrison Flats and immediately predicting victory.
“George is going to win.”
The reality unfolding inside Kusche’s body was far less glamorous.
“My left calf was cramping.”
“My legs were sore.”
“I kind of felt tired.”
Then came Polly Shortts.
The notorious climb often acts like a final judge standing between contenders and champions.
Fortunately, Kusche had studied every metre.
“I knew exactly how long that hill would be.“
That knowledge became a psychological weapon.
“I knew it’s two kilometres.”
“I knew that if I could get to the top in the lead and feeling strong and maintain my pace, then the odds are good of winning.”
What happened next was pure courage.
“I didn’t feel good.”
“But I went up that hill giving it everything I had.”
The scoreboards at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium painted a picture of dominance on Saturday, but Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and SA A coachMzwandile Stick were far more interested in the details hidden beneath the numbers.
The Springboks opened their season with an emphatic 80-31 victory over the Barbarians, while SA A brushed aside Zimbabwe 40-0. Despite the convincing results, both coaches identified areas requiring urgent attention before the Nations Championship begins in two weeks.
Erasmus praised the Springboks’ attacking output but admitted their discipline and defensive consistency left room for improvement.
“Our discipline wasn’t great, and they (the Barbarians) scored tries in quick succession, so yellow cards were not ideal,” said Erasmus.
The Bok coach pointed to the realities of a squad reconnecting after several months apart.
“But we have to remind ourselves that it’s been six or seven months since we’ve played together, and some guys were new in the mix, while we also didn’t know when the DHL Stormers or Vodacom Bulls players would be available at some stage, which are all aspects we have to keep in mind.
“To score 80 points is nice, but the Barbarians were thrown together quite late, and had only three training sessions, which makes them difficult to analyse. They scored four or five great tries, so we need to eliminate those defensive lapses and be better as a unit when we play against England.”
One concern for Erasmus was the injury suffered by experienced lock Franco Mostert, who was forced from the field.
“I’m worried about his ankle. He’ll go for scans tomorrow, so hopefully it’s not too bad.”
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi echoed his coach’s assessment, saying the match provided valuable evidence of what is working and what still needs attention.
“I thought a lot of what we wanted to get through, we did, but also, when things didn’t work, and we went against the plan, we learned lessons there,” said Kolisi.
“I always have to watch the game again to get a good assessment about things, but I already know some of the mistakes we made and the areas we need to fix. There were opportunities where I thought we could have controlled things better.”
Earlier in the day, SA A delivered a disciplined defensive display against a determined Zimbabwe side preparing for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Stick admitted the performance was not without frustration despite the clean-sheet victory.
“We knew it was going to be a big challenge because the majority of our players have never played together, so it was a new team, and Zimbabwe tried to challenge us by keeping ball in hand and playing direct rugby. I enjoyed the way they played.
“That said, for us, the goal was to see whether the players could execute what we’ve been working on over the past two weeks, and it was sometimes frustrating when the points weren’t coming.
“In the first half, we were unlucky, with two tries disallowed – once where a player went into touch, and another when a player was slightly in front of the kick. But from my side, the way the guys stayed in the fight, even when we were under pressure, was great, and we managed to keep a clean sheet.”
SA A captain Vincent Tshituka paid tribute to Zimbabwe’s intensity and ambition.
“We played against a desperate side, and we expected that. We knew the Zimbabwe players would be motivated and would want to prove a point against world-class opposition, and it showed.”
South Africa’s opening victories delivered plenty of encouragement. Erasmus and Stick know tougher examinations await, and both coaches left Gqeberha with a notebook full of positives and a to-do list that remains far from complete.
The race to make sport safer is gathering pace, and in Cape Town the baton was firmly placed in African hands.
More than 400 delegates from around the world converged on the University of Cape Town for the Safe Sport Global Conference, where World Athletics and World Rugbyjoined forces to strengthen safeguarding systems and elevate athlete welfare across the continent and beyond.
Held from 25 to 27 May and opening on Africa Day, the conference brought together researchers, policymakers, administrators and safeguarding practitioners in a shared pursuit of a sporting environment where athletes can thrive free from abuse, exploitation and harm.
At the heart of the gathering was a message that resonated through lecture halls and panel discussions alike.
“Safer sport is not built by one discipline, one organisation or one country alone. It depends on shared responsibility, deeper understanding, and stronger systems,” said Associate Professor David Maralack,Head of Department at the School of Management Studies at UCT.
In many ways, the conference embodied that philosophy.
Like teammates linking arms in a defensive line or runners working together through a punishing headwind, World Athletics and World Rugby used the event to create new partnerships, share expertise and strengthen safeguarding networks throughout Africa.
Maralack also highlighted the significance of hosting the conference on African soil.
“Hosting the conference at UCT placed African scholarship and lived experience at the forefront of this important dialogue, challenging the historical dominance of perspectives shaped elsewhere.”
For years, safeguarding conversations have often been driven by frameworks developed in Europe and North America. In Cape Town, African experiences moved from the margins to the centre of the field.
The collaboration between athletics and rugby was far more than a symbolic handshake. It reflected a growing recognition that safeguarding challenges are shared across sports and that solutions are often stronger when organisations work side by side.
“The Safe Sport 2026 Conference came at an opportune time for World Rugby/Africa Rugby and World Athletics/African Athletics, as both sports are establishing safeguarding focal points across their African member unions and associations,” said Global Safe Sport Conference Coordinator Norman Brook.
“Both organisations participated in the conference and hosted related side events, including a joint session where rugby and athletics safeguarding officers explored ways to build regional and national support networks.”
The three-day programme examined how safeguarding commitments can be transformed from policy documents into everyday practice. Research presentations, workshops, stakeholder dialogues and keynote sessions tackled topics ranging from athlete welfare and leadership accountability to international cooperation and policy implementation.
World Athletics and the Athletics Integrity Unit contributed expertise through discussions on continental safeguarding networks, trauma-informed case management and the relationship between integrity and athlete protection.
Away from the formal programme, 15 safeguarding leads from African athletics federations met to exchange ideas, discuss challenges and build relationships designed to strengthen athlete protection across the continent. Working alongside World Rugby representatives, delegates forged connections that organisers hope will outlast the conference itself.
“The safeguarding officer role can sometimes feel isolating, with few people available for advice,” he said.
“By working together, Rugby and Athletics have created a practical way to provide mutual, on-the-ground support across their networks.”
The importance of collaboration emerged as one of the event’s defining themes.
Neal Andersen, CEO of Safe Sport International, said that at its core “safe sport is the only sport that matters”.
National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe safeguarding officer Tawanda Mutero said the conference demonstrated growing global commitment to athlete safety.
“It emphasised listening to athletes and putting them first. Collaboration was highlighted as key to making sport safer for everyone.”
Athletics Namibia safeguarding officer Victoria Tilovanhu Katukula echoed those sentiments.
“The Safe Sport Conference provided a valuable opportunity for networking with professionals committed to creating safer sporting environments. My takeaway is that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and it is not done overnight.”
That message became the conference’s enduring refrain.
Safeguarding is not a sprint to be won in a single season. It is a marathon requiring patience, vigilance and collective effort. Strong policies matter, although culture, education and accountability ultimately determine whether athletes feel protected.
As delegates departed Cape Town, the conference concluded with a call to carry the Safe Sport legacy forward.
The final whistle may have sounded on three days of discussion. The work of protecting athletes, however, continues every day in training grounds, boardrooms, clubhouses and classrooms across the world.
If the conference achieved one thing, it was reinforcing a simple truth. Athlete safety is not the responsibility of a select few. It belongs to everyone who shares the field, the track and the future of sport.
Safeguarding is not a sprint to be won in a single season. It is a marathon requiring patience, vigilance and collective effort. Strong policies matter, although culture, education and accountability ultimately determine whether athletes feel protected.
As delegates departed Cape Town, the conference concluded with a call to carry the Safe Sport legacy forward.
The final whistle may have sounded on three days of discussion, although the real work has only begun.
If the conference achieved one thing, it was reinforcing a simple truth. Athlete safety is not the responsibility of a select few. It belongs to everyone who shares the field, the track and the future of sport.
