The crowd of jubilant Springboks fans lining the Union Buildings' Government Avenue in Pretoria on Thursday morning, roared with excitement when South Africa's World Cup-winning rugby team arrived to kick off their nationwide trophy tour.
The crowd cheered again when President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived at a makeshift stage, to meet the team led by coach Rassie Erasmus.
Several government ministers and officials of the SA Rugby Union were present.
HERO: Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi at the Union Buildings in Pretoria where the team received a hero's welcome. Picture: ANA.
The team will also visit Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town on their five-day tour to show off the Webb Ellis trophy, clinched on Saturday when they defeated England in the final.
UNITY AT UNION: The Union Buildings in Pretoria is where the Springboks kicked off their victory tour. Video: ANA.
The trophy tour kicked off in Gauteng on Thursday with the Bok-branded bus travelling through parts of Pretoria, Johannesburg and Soweto.
DECKED: The Union Buildings were decked in green and gold as fans flocked to catch a glimpse of the Webb Ellis Cup. Video: ANA.
On Friday, the Boks will be in Durban, followed by stops in East London (Saturday 9 November), Port Elizabeth (Sunday 10 November) and Cape Town (Monday 11 November).
ANTICIPATION: Fans wait at the Union Buildings in Pretoria to give the Springbok team a hero's welcome. Picture: ANA.
Fans will unfortunately not have the opportunity to see Bok flyhalf Handre Pollard after the World Cup's highest points contributor was found to have a broken cheekbone. Pollard shared on his Instagram that he will do it [the Rugby World Cup] 1000 times over just to hold "Bill" again.
INJURED: Handre Pollard will miss the Boks trophy tour to recover from a broken cheekbone. Picture: Instagram/@handrepollard
Social media was abuzz with adoring fans sharing their moments in the streets of Gauteng:
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/Springboks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Springboks“I knew from the start they were going to bring [the cup] back” - Lawrence Viers is here to see the bokke ahead of their parade. AJ pic.twitter.com/jxZ92hlknu
— Abigail Javier (@AbigailJavier_)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpringbokChampions?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpringbokChampions #SpringboksParade #RWC2019Champions pic.twitter.com/tgueeLyZ7R
— Möbius band (@Mulalo_SA)
Got my SA 🇿🇦 now ready for the Springboks trophy 🏆 parade later this afternoon.
— Mandanda (@linda_kwenamore) November 7, 2019
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/Springboks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpringboksWORLD CHAMPS🇿🇦❤️ pic.twitter.com/koZmnERSjt
— KrayKrayKiara (@KIARA_PAYNE)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tshwane?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tshwaneearlier today for the #Springboks trophy parade #RWC2019Champions #WorldChampions pic.twitter.com/h7M2HMpkF2
— Krotoa Arends (@kitty46katzy)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/Springboks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Springboksdrive by for their bus parade around Johannesburg. #Witsies4Bokke pic.twitter.com/dO4NX5v04s
— Wits University (@WitsUniversity)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/TrophyTour?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TrophyTour #Springboks pic.twitter.com/9Z71lOusUT
— Vele (@vmuhadi)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/Springboks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Springboks #PARADE pic.twitter.com/Bd9Wae4Zxj
— s.w (@_scottywest)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/Springboks?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Springboks #springboksparade pic.twitter.com/abCvttTjzz
— Spades DJ (@spades_rsa)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/Springboks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Springboks🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦 #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/LFSYVslQY6
— Katleho Modiko (@kaddy_vii)
African News Agency