SAGCE rescued the team last year with its sponsorship, when the team was unable to enter due to a lack of funds. "Being an industry leader in gold coins and medallions, we are only too happy to align with our gold medallists who fly the South African flag high," says Alan Demby, the executive chairman of SAGCE, referring to the team's history of gold medals, 36 to date.
SAGCE has launched the ½ oz Mandela Strelitzia gold medallion, known as Mandela's gold flower, with Mandela on the front and the Strelitzia on the reverse. "We will have to see whether the Kirstenbosch team incorporates the Strelitzia into its 2012 design. Although whatever the design, we know it will be of gold status," concludes Demby.
*Corrected at 3:34pm on 18 April 2012: The original press release, issued by Meropa Communications on behalf of SAGCE, incorrectly stated that the Western Cape Government was the main sponsor this year. South African National Biodiversity Institute (Kirstenbosch) has since informed Bizcommunity.com that SAGCE is the main sponsor and that the provincial government is not involved. We regret the error.
