Human Rights Day: Apartheid-defiant Gerrie Coetzee Was Sa's Human Rights World Champ

Human Rights Day serves to remind us of the inspiring contributions of sporting heroes like boxer Gerrie Coetzee in uniting South Africans and promoting social cohesion as a means of dismantling the walls of segregation in South African sport.

Currently, South Africa pauses to reflect on the importance of Human Rights Day. It is fitting to explore the profound impact that sport has had on uniting this diverse nation.

From the cherished memories of the 1995 Rugby World Cup to the inspiring stories of individual athletes such as Coetzee, The Boksburg Bomber, who was internationally acclaimed for criticising apartheid.

He earned the respect from icons like Nelson Mandela and Muhammad Ali for various acts of defiance during the era of racial segregation.

South Africas democratically elected post-apartheid government awarded Coetzee The Order of Ikhamanga for his contribution to nation-building through sport.