Hundreds of fans welcome Proteas home after World Test Championship victory
Temba Bavuma led his team out of the arrivals gates with the iconic Test championship mace and was greeted with deafening cheers that defied the size of the crowd.
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie congratulates Proteas Test captain Temba Bavuma on their World Test Championship victory following the team's arrival at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on 18 June 2025. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - Hundreds of fans have gathered at OR Tambo International Airport to welcome the victorious Proteas to the country following a historic showing in the World Test Championship final.
The team won their first major title in 27 years on Saturday after beating Australia by 5 wickets at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.
A festive crowd, including former players, current teammates, and people who took time off from work and school. Children as young as 6 started arriving early and have been in a celebratory mood, anticipating the appearance of the players.
[WATCH] Supporters have turned up at OR Tambo International Airport to welcome the #Proteas following victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord's on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/Z1kC9WtStk
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) June 18, 2025
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) June 18, 2025
It was a moment many years in the making.
Countless disappointments from the past and the many near misses disappeared as captain, Temba Bavuma, held the ICC Test championship mace aloft, signalling the Proteas as world champions for the first time.
The hundreds of people gathered in the crowd, including the sports minister, former and current Proteas and fans, sang for Bavuma, whose name echoed throughout the arrivals terminal.
One avid cricket enthusiast never thought a day like this would come.
"Honestly, Saturday was the best day of my life. For the first 15 years, I've been supporting the Proteas, probably even longer, and I've been waiting and waiting and waiting to celebrate this moment. So there's absolutely no way I could miss this," she said.
"After last year's loss in the T20 final, I was starting to lose hope but I always had that glimmer [of hope] that this moment would come and honestly, it's better than I imagined."
Curious onlookers making their way to catch their flights and taxis to their destinations shared in the festivities and stopped to take in the spectacle as fans continued to sing familiar South African classics like "Shosholoza".
The Proteas will host their official victory celebration on Thursday at Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton City from 1 pm, and fans are welcome to attend.