Medallists soothe SA

In a week in which South Africa reeled from the passing of Struggle stalwart Winnie MadikizelaMandela, sports again came to soothe a nation in mourning.

Team SA’s medal-laden performances across various sporting codes at the Commonwealth Games in Australia’s Gold Coast captivated us the entire week.

We salute the likes of Caster Semenya and Luvo Manyonga for delivering on their promise once again. And they did so in grand style as they shattered records in addition to their gold-medal feats this week.

Semenya again showed her dominance in middle distance running when she obliterated the 34-year-old record of the legendary Zola Budd in the

1 500m.

Long jumper Manyonga, on the other hand, has been the favourite storyline of commentators, who as a reformed drug addict, continues to affirm his status as global athletics’ newest star with another record-nailing leap.

We must be proud of our athletes, who constantly deliver on the international stage amid administration politics and bungles that often threaten to overshadow on-field affairs.

It goes to show the country’s well of talent.

What a way to add some spark to an otherwise gloomy week that not only remembered Mama Winnie but a time when the country was further plunged into mourning by the death of another Struggle hero, Zola Skweyiya.

We also take this moment to remember the Ellis Park disaster, which marked its 17th anniversary this week.