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Archbishop Desmond Tutu and South African cricket greats have hailed the Proteas' breakthrough test series win in Australia as a defining moment in the country's sporting and social history.
A delighted Tutu commended Graeme Smith's side and said its victory was a triumph for modern-day, multicultural South Africa.
"Yippeeeee," he said in a statement published by the South African Press Association.
"You are not just fantastic players.
"You also help to unite us and to remind us that we are special, a great nation that needs play second fiddle to none."
Former allrounder Mike Procter ranked the moment the Proteas secured a series win as "one of the greatest sporting moments in South African history", and hailed the composure and fight the players showed in both the Perth and Melbourne tests.
"The two test matches South Africa won have been incredible," he told Cricinfo.
"It just showed the tremendous character of the team because in both the tests there was no way they could win the game and they ended up winning both matches very comfortably."
Cricket administrator Ali Bacher, who also captained South Africa to their last series win over Australia, in 1969-70, said there was "no question" Smith's side was now the best in the world.
Former fast bowler Peter Pollock, a member of Bacher's great side, rated this series win as significant as the country's two rugby World Cup victories.
"We have won the rugby World Cup twice and that was huge, but we are country that is going through transition so every time we do something good we really hang on to it," he told Cricinfo.
"This series victory is one of the better moments of South African sport, no question about it."
Former batsman Jonty Rhodes, who never tasted a series win over Australia, said the manner in which his successors won was more meaningful than the eventual result.
"Having come back from difficult positions in both tests shows true character, no other South African team has been able to seize their opportunities when they had the chance," Rhodes told the country's Daily News newspaper.
"There are great prospects for this team, and I can't wait for the return series (starting February)."
The history-making win was front-page news across South Africa.
Johannesburg's The Star featured a photograph of the Proteas celebrating on the ground accompanied by the headline "Overjoyed Proteas sing it to the Aussies".
Despite Australia retaining top spot in the world rankings, the national Mail & Guardian newspaper said "South Africa have every right to call themselves the world's best team after their nine-wicket victory in the second test".
The Afrikaans-language newspaper Beeld needed no translation for the meaning of its headline: "SA IS DIE BESTE".
- AAP
