Cape Town - Rugby fans in Khayelitsha escaped injury when Western Province players threw paper money to them during a Currie Cup victory parade in the city on Tuesday. WP Rugby on Wednesday apologised for the incident.
Cape
Argus took photographs of the incident, including one of wing Bryan Habana autographing a note before throwing it into the crowd.
Cape Argus staffers saw at least three people throwing money into the Khayelitsha crowd.
As the money was thrown from the bus, people jostled to get their hands on the cash. There were no reported injuries.
On radio on Wednesday callers and presenters voiced a range of opinions on the matter. Some said it was in poor taste and patronising, while others saw nothing wrong with it.
WP Rugby Union president Thelo Wakefield apologised. He explained that upon stopping in Khayelitsha on on the third leg of Tuesday’s victory parade, part of the crowd had appealed to players on the bus for money suggesting they were hungry.
Money had been dropped to individuals in the crowd.
Wakefield said: “It was maybe a little naive of the players involved, but their intentions were good. There was certainly no negative intention, only positive. If it was perceived in any other way, we apologise.”
WP rugby said he incident had been over very quickly “and formed but a tiny part of what was a very successful parade through the streets of Cape Town, Elsies River and Khayelitsha as the newly-crowned Currie Cup champions took the trophy to the people of Cape Town”.
Wakefield added: “It was truly humbling to see all the people that turned out... to show their support and for each of us to understand exactly how much the win meant to the Faithful.
“Basically, we took the cup to them, the Faithful - in the city centre, Elsies River and Khayelitsha - and I’d like to thank the people of Cape Town for supporting their team yesterday in what was a very successful day.”
After an 11-year drought, WP had brought the Currie Cup back to Cape Town. They beat the Sharks by seven points in a thrilling Durban final on Saturday. Juan de Jongh’s 33rd minute try was the moment that separated the two teams.
On Tuesday, it was De Jongh who was first to break away from his team-mates as they arrived at City Hall. He walked over to the cheering crowd and immersed himself in hugs and kisses, before walking the length of the low fence shaking hands and having pictures taken.
The last of the pictures was taken with Sally Jacobs, a Mitchells Plain mother who sneaked out of her nearby office to grab a glimpse of her hero.
“Oh my! I’m not even going to be able to sleep tonight. This will have to be framed, and sit along with the family photos. I came here just for him, and look at this,” she said, turning her cellphone around to show off to the other fans surrounding her.
De Jongh said: “Its an unbelievable feeling, to bring the cup back after 11 years. This is for all our supporters, especially those who came out week after week to cheer for us at Newlands. I want them to know how much that support has meant to me personally, and to the rest of the team.”
Cape Argus