Sport losses directly affect South Africa's Gross Happiness Scale (GHS) - Professor

According to the Gross Happiness Scale (GHS), a measure of national well-being that looks beyond traditional economic indicators like GDP, sporting losses – especially those involving national teams – can have a noticeable impact on a country's overall mood. This effect is particularly strong when the losses are unexpected or fans are emotionally invested.

Although this drop in happiness is usually short-lived, it’s more pronounced when a large number of people experience the disappointment together, such as during major tournaments or high-profile matches.

The GHS uses machine learning and big data – including trends from Google searches – to track and predict a country's happiness levels, explains Professor Greyling. She notes that South Africans’ collective emotions often align closely with specific events, with sports having one of the most significant influences.

If the nation feels positive, productivity increases, says Greyling.

But South Africans are resilient, so recovery from sadness to happiness happens quickly, adds Greyling.