'Where was our support?' SA questions cricket gender gap after Women's World Cup final

SOUTH Africa's Women's Cricket World Cup final loss to India has ignited a fierce national debate about gender inequality in sports after a viral social media post called out the lack of support from cricket officials and male ex-players.

While India's women celebrated with national icons present, South Africa's team stood alone, raising uncomfortable questions about how women's sports is valued in the country.

India clinched the title with a commanding 52-run win over South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. 

The match sparked a passionate social media post by South African actress and writer Thanja Vuur, known online as @cape_town_cricket_queen, who accused the nation’s cricket establishment and male cricketers of abandoning the women’s national team when they needed support the most.

In her viral Instagram video, Vuur did not hold back.

“India, you win this World Cup. Your congratulations is coming. Just give me a few minutes because first I’m gonna tell you why. The reason is you. Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, even VVS Laxman, were there to support you. Who the hell showed up from South Africa? Hm? These ex-cricket players that you love from South Africa, the men… where are they? Oh, this event was not high-profile enough for them. Nobody showed up. I don’t think our minister of sport was there.”

Vuur said despite the team working hard, they had received no recognition for their hard work or support from South Africa, encouraging them to victory.

“Smriti Mandhana and the girls worked so hard. They did so well. But what does it feel like when none of these people show up? Did they just think we were gonna lose? Is that the message they’re sending?” said Vuur.

The controversy has since reignited broader conversations about how women’s sports are funded, promoted, and valued in South Africa. 

Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi, Minority Front Leader, also raised concerns about the sports department's handling of women's cricket teams in South Africa.

"Cricket in South Africa has adopted a “liassez – faire” approach in respect of women’s cricket whereby its hands off approach is shown by our government in terms of President Cyril Ramaphosa not physically meeting the team the next day.

"This is unlike India where the Prime Minister Narendra Modiji met the Indian Women’s Cricket team the next day at his residence in New Delhi. Feting a winning even if our team came second would mean a lot to our women cricketers. The team is treated with disdain as the paltry R1 million bonus allocated to the team by the sports department pales into insignificance compared to our men’s cricket team,” said Thakur-Rajbansi.

"With the Olympics in 2028, hosting cricket for the first time since 1900, more attention should be shown to nurturing talent in the women’s cricket team for them to excel and make South Africa proud as cricket in T20 format will be played.

“In addition, quotas still rule the roost in South African cricket. We must remember that Captain Themba Bavuma remained unsold at the recent T20 cricket auction. 

"There were no South African Indian women selected in the semi-final and final squads: seven whites, and the four players of colour were three black African and one coloured; no Indians. Yet, there are talented Indian women in provincial teams. Why was our Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie quiet about this?” she asked.

"The video on the other hand focuses on areas of people present and is somewhat misleading as CSA members and the President Dr Moosajee were present. They also gave the team a grand homecoming welcome.

“The MF requests Dr Moosaji to be strict about implementation of the batting order quotas and implement these for international games if the team’s morale is to be improved. Finally, Rohith Sharma is from Mumbai and so is Sachin Tendulkar who is also an ICC member, hence they attended. Nothing stopped other South African sporting stars from attending. Maybe we should be questioning how Cricket SA is using the T20 prize monies to develop domestic cricket and increase cricket fan base support which are topics for another time," said Thakur-Rajbansi. 

Dr Rajendran Govender, Commissioner at the Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Rights Commission, agreed with Vuur.

“I totally agree with this viewpoint. Greater support for our women cricketers would certainly have boosted their morale. The Indian women’s team enjoyed tremendous backing from their nation - not just from ordinary citizens but also from prominent former cricketers, which served as a powerful source of motivation and national pride.

“In contrast, our South African ladies were all alone in a foreign country, carrying the nation’s hopes with very little visible support. It would have made a world of difference if South Africans living, studying, or working in India had been invited to the finals to wave our national flag proudly in the stands. That visual show of solidarity would have uplifted the players and sent a powerful message that their country stood behind them,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the women’s team does not receive the same prestige, recognition, or respect as the men’s team, despite playing the same sport and demonstrating equal commitment, discipline, and passion. We need to change this narrative by celebrating their achievements more visibly, ensuring equitable media coverage, and encouraging our cricketing fraternity - past and present - to rally behind them. True sporting excellence is not defined by gender but by performance, perseverance, and pride in representing one’s country,” added Govender. 

Visvin Reddy, an uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party member of parliament said: “The disgraceful lack of support for our women’s cricket team is a national embarrassment. These players have flown our flag with pride and consistency, yet government has treated them like an afterthought. “Minister Gayton McKenzie is quick to post pictures and make noise, but when it comes to real investment in women’s sport - equal funding, proper facilities, and recognition - he is missing in action,” said Reddy. “Our female athletes are performing miracles with crumbs while politicians bask in borrowed glory. Until this government stops using sport for public relations and starts building real structures of support, we will keep failing the very heroes who make our nation proud,” he added.