Throwback Thursday When Hotstix Sang for South Africa

As the Springboks and All Blacks prepare for another pivotal chapter in rugby’s greatest rivalry, it feels like the perfect moment to look back at a day that remains very special in the life and career of Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse.

The place was Soccer City in Soweto. The date was Saturday, 6 October 2012. The occasion was a Test match between the Springboks and the All Blacks — two giants of world rugby.

And standing on that enormous stage, in front of a capacity crowd, was one of Soweto’s own: Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse.

For an artist who had already spent more than four decades making music, performing around the world and creating songs that had become part of the South African soundtrack, remarkably, this was another first.

In the build-up to the Test, Hotstix announced that he had never before sung the South African National Anthem. He was about to do so at Soccer City before South Africa faced the then world champion All Blacks.

“In over 45 years in the music business, I have never sung the South African National Anthem — I can’t wait!”

What followed became a wonderful piece of Hotstix history.

And thanks to the original FINAL event run sheet from that day, we have an extraordinary record of exactly how the occasion unfolded. The document lists South Africa vs New Zealand at Soccer City on 6 October 2012, with kick-off at 17:00.

THE FINAL MINUTES BEFORE KICK-OFF

TIME	OFFICIAL RUN ORDER
16:41–16:42	MC thanks Jay and introduces Sipho Hotstix Mabuse from the side of the pitch.
16:42–16:47	Sipho Hotstix Mabuse performs with hip-hop and contemporary dancers.
16:53	The All Blacks run out and take their position on the field.
16:54	The Springboks run out and take their position on the field.
16:55	MC asks everyone in Soccer City to stand for the anthems.
16:55–16:57	New Zealand anthem.
16:57–16:59	South African anthem performed by “Sipho Hotstix Mabuse” — official duration 1:50.
16:59	Players remove tracksuits, followed by the Haka.
17:00	KICK-OFF — South Africa vs New Zealand.

There is something rather beautiful about seeing it written down in the original working document all these years later. Among the hundreds of timings, television cues, entertainment instructions and match-day responsibilities sits one simple line bearing the name Sipho Hotstix Mabuse.

For one minute and 50 seconds, the voice belonged to Hotstix. The anthem belonged to South Africa. And the stage was Soccer City, in the heart of Soweto — the community that helped shape the man and musician and where he remains deeply rooted.

The performance has stayed with those of us fortunate enough to have witnessed it. It was delivered with dignity, feeling and enormous pride — the kind of anthem performance that, for us, became a benchmark.

A special word of thanks must go to Jenny Wentzel from SA Rugby, who booked Sipho and helped make this remarkable moment possible. Her name also appears throughout the original final run order alongside the entertainment programme, adding another lovely piece of provenance to the memory.

The photographs accompanying this Throwback Thursday have their own special connection to the day. They were taken by my friend Jernique Bayard, who was inside Soccer City on 6 October 2012 and captured the occasion as it unfolded.

WATCH AND LISTEN

You can listen again to Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse singing the South African National Anthem at Soccer City on 6 October 2012:

More than a decade later, hearing that voice ring around Soccer City brings back the scale and emotion of the occasion: a packed stadium, the Springboks and All Blacks waiting, the Haka still to come, and a son of Soweto standing on the field singing for his country.

Some moments disappear when the final whistle blows. Others become part of your story forever.

For Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, this was one of those moments.

THROWBACK THURSDAY — SOCCER CITY, SOWETO — 6 OCTOBER 2012

Photograph Jernique Bayard
Original match-day run order: SA Rugby, 6 October 2012

Historical source note: A contemporary Sowetan report published on 20 September 2012 recorded Hotstix’s announcement that the Soccer City Test would be the first time he had sung the South African National Anthem.