CSA has defended the timing and turnout of the Proteas’ delayed World Test Championship mace tour.

The Proteas lifted the mace after beating Australia at Lord’s in June, sparking jubilant scenes at OR Tambo International Airport when the team returned from the final.

But the official mace tour only rolled out nearly three months later, with weekday stops across the country drawing criticism for sparse crowds and a lack of momentum.

CSA’s public affairs executive Refentse Shinners told SportsBoom.co.za the timing had an impact but stressed the broader objective.

“Had the tour been immediate, after the WTC final win, the public turnout would’ve been different. If we look at the turnout at OR Tambo, it was massive,” she said.

“The main objective of the trophy tour was not only to take the mace to the people, but to create deep and meaningful connections between the Proteas and the fans.”

The East London leg of the tour was cancelled due to safety concerns amid local protests, a move that drew questions ahead of South Africa hosting the 2027 ODI World Cup.

“Protests happen in the country,” said Shinners. “I don’t think it’s justified to compare a mace trophy parade with an international tournament. We have sufficient time to assess risk and implement mitigation strategies.”

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Crowd numbers varied across venues, with Durban affected by rain and Cape Town’s parade looking underwhelming on social media. Shinners said turnout still met expectations.

“We had estimated an average of 1,000 fans per venue. Our lowest was Durban, just below 1,100 fans. Kimberley had a big turnout on a Tuesday morning, even during school exams.”

She added that those who attended benefited from close interaction with the players.

“These were deep and meaningful engagements. We exceeded our expectations across various venues.”

Photo: Ziyaad Douglas/Gallo Images