By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gautrain says it will offer free rides to Springboks supporters travelling to and from OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday, 31 October 2023 to welcome home world champions.
The Springboks defeated New Zealand 12 – 11 in a thrilling final in Paris, France and won the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The four time champions left France for South Africa on Monday morning and they are expected to land at the OR Tambo International Airport at 10:55 on Tuesday.
The free rides will be from 10am to 3pm from Johannesburg Park, Sandton, Midrand, and Pretoria.
However, the free train service is only available to people wearing Springbok or South African colours without luggage.
“As the Gautrain, we couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of the celebrations and play our part by transporting Bokke supporters. The Springboks deserve a rousing South African welcome. We are bursting with pride,” said Gautrain CEO Tshepo Kgobe.
When travelling to the airport, the free service is only between 10am and 12pm, and when returning from the airport, the free service is only between 12:30pm and 3pm
Free travel is limited to the train service and does not include Gautrain buses and minibuses.
The Springboks will embark on a trophy tour on Thursday, 2 November.
The tour will start in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Soweto – concluding at FNB Stadium – on Thursday, 2 November, and take in Cape Town (Friday, 3 November) and Durban (Saturday, 4 November) before concluding in the Eastern Cape (East London) on Sunday, 5 November.