Gayton McKenzie hints at bonuses for Proteas as Temba Bavuma's men get heroes welcome

Sports minister Gayton McKenzie says the Proteas are set for big bonuses following their historic victory in the ICC World Test Championship final.

The Proteas arrived at OR Tambo International from London to a heroes welcome after defeating Australia by five wickets in the final at Lord’s on Saturday. They were accompanied by the ICC Test Mace, the first piece of silverware South Africa’s cricket team has won since claiming the 1998 Champions Trophy title.

McKenzie greeted the team at the airport and hinted to the media that there will be an announcement about bonuses for the team at a main press conference at Cricket South Africa’s headquarters in Johannesburg later today.

“We will talk about that later,” McKenzie said. “We have got so many winners, all these bonuses can bankrupt the country!”

The Proteas are the latest South African sports team to win on the world stage, following on from many other great achievements over the last few years.

The Springboks won back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles in 2019 and 2023, while Bafana Bafana won the bronze medal at the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations and have qualified for the next edition in Morocco, which will be played from December 26.

During the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, South Africa won six medals, including gold for star swimmer Tatjana Smith and a silver for the 4x100 men’s relay team anchored by Akani Simbine.

Recently, Upington-born Rayno Nel won the 2025 World's Strongest Man competition, while Brendali Theron was crowned the World's Strongest Woman in Dubai last month.

“We are the best sports nation in the world, nobody can argue that. We have the best cricket team, the best rugby team and Bafana Bafana have gone 20 games without defeat,” McKenzie said.

“We have the world’s strongest man, the world’s strongest woman. We have the fastest runners, the best surfers in the world. We are a bunch of winners!”

McKenzie heaped praise on Proteas coach Shukri Conrad and captain Temba Bavuma for guiding the Proteas to the title, saying they instilled an unshakable confidence in the team over the last few years leading into the WTC final.

“You know the difference with this team … Shukri Conrad is the best coach in the world, but one thing he did with this team is make them believe,” McKenzie said.

“They don’t need motivation. We believed they were going to win. Conrad believed they were going to win and they believed they were going to win. It’s the recipe for where we are today.

“They say cometh the hour, cometh the man. Temba Bavuma, he rose at the right  time. Temba means hope, and he brought hope to the nation.”

McKenzie also hailed the team’s diversity, drawing comparisons with the Springboks, who are loved by all people from all walks of life in the country.

“People should see themselves when they watch our national teams. White kids must see themselves. Coloured kids must see themselves. Black and Indian kids must see themselves. That is what the Proteas are doing here,” the minister said.

“They are following in the footsteps of the Springboks. We are a socially cohesive country … we are the rainbow nation. A black captain in Temba Bavuma and the children are singing his name, children from all creeds and colours.”

john.goliath@iol.co.za