Boks show sky is the limit for all

Our rugby team is an inspiration and a source of hope for all South Africans. After the dark days of our nation, the democratic government embarked on a transformation process to redress previous purposefully imposed imbalances. The concepts of quotas in sports and BEE were born.

While the majority of the country welcomed these ideas, many felt uncomfortable.

Even today some rugby players are condescendingly referred to as “quota players”, just as people in the workplace are called “BEE appointments”.

Rugby is teaching us that the policy of transformation is working. The path that our political leaders have taken to bring about equality in all aspects of South

African life is bearing fruit. Can anyone claim that any player in our champion team is there on anything but merit? Transformation has resulted in us not just choosing the best team in the country, but the best in the world.

The rugby victory is more than a story of bringing the nation together. It teaches us that all people can achieve, regardless of background. A boy who grew up hungry can lead the nation to international glory. Boys and girls who walk long distances to school can one day lead multinational corporations. Nothing prevents a child who studies under candlelight from one day performing open-heart surgery.

Hence, all those who had misgivings about the route of transformation that we embarked on after 1994 must surely now be able to see the light.

Vasie Eraman, Reservoir Hills