The GOOD, BAD and TERRIBLE: What happened in SA in 2023?

One of the more – perhaps most – exciting South African events in 2023 was the Rugby World Cup victory for the Springboks in France in October.

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Below, a look at some of the Good, Bad and Terrible events that unfolded over the last 12 months.

THE GOOD

South Africa’s most award-winning airport, Cape Town International Airport, was announced the world’s third best airport in the AirHelp survey.

The South African soprano, Pretty Yende, was invited to sing at the coronation of King Charles III. According to The Guardian, it was almost certainly the biggest audience in Yende’s career so far and for her, “a dream come true.”

After the Springboks won the 2023 Rugby World Cup against New Zealand, President Cyril Ramaphosa told the team: “The Springboks are a potent symbol of just how far we have come as a people. That is why you have been so warmly embraced by South Africans of all races as their own”.

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THE BAD – AND SAD

Thousands of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) protesters marched through SA’s cities calling on Ramaphosa to resign over the lack of jobs and electricity.

Severe weather resulted in flooding and serious damage on infrastructures across the Western Cape province.

Many well-known South Africans passed away this year including:

• Rapper AKA who was shot dead in a drive-by-shooting, 
• Derek Watts, a South African investigative reporter, who died of lung cancer, 
• Politician Mangosuthu Buthelezi, 
• Jeremy Gordin, a renowned journalist and writer,
• Zahara, a singer and songwriter
• Mark Pilgrim, a veteran broadcaster, who died of lung cancer.

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THE TERRIBLE

South Africa experienced a cholera outbreak that led to a significant number of deaths. The response by the Health Department, supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners, swiftly controlled the outbreak.

At least 73 people died and 52 were injured in a massive fire in a multi-storey building in Johannesburg.

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