
Gemmie and the SPU Cheerleading Squad
On Monday, 3 February 2025, Sol Plaatje University (SPU) kicked off its Varsity Shield celebrations with an electrifying Mascot Madness activation.
The event, aimed at rallying community support for SPU’s historic, first-ever qualification for the Varsity Shield, saw Gemmie and the Red Rush team take over the city in an action-packed day filled with excitement, energy, and school spirit.
The day’s festivities began at key intersections, where Gemmie and the Red Rush team engaged with commuters and passersby, bringing Varsity Shield fever to the streets. The early-morning activation was just the beginning of a city-wide takeover designed to build excitement ahead of SPU’s Varsity Shield debut on home ground.
The energy escalated as the convoy – led by police vehicles, a fire truck, and Suzuki-sponsored cars – set off across the city, making its way to local schools for a series of Mascot Madness invasions.
The first stop was Northern Cape High School where the arrival of Gemmie took the energy to meteoric levels, setting the stage for an intense mascot dance-off between SPU’s Gemmie and the school’s own Kiyambi. The learners cheered with excitement, but by the end of the showdown, it was clear – Gemmie had won their hearts.
The second invasion took place at Diamantveld High School, where students welcomed SPU with their school chant. Gemmie responded with his signature moves, turning their breaktime into a full-on Mascot Madness experience. The students were so caught up in the excitement that they didn’t want Gemmie to leave. But it was at Staats Primary School where the energy soared into the stratosphere. The moment Gemmie arrived, the young learners broke from their seating order, rushing forward to greet, hug, and surround SPU’s beloved mascot. The excitement reached its peak with yet another dance battle – this time between Gemmie and Staats Primary’s own Rocky. The primary schoolers screamed with enthusiasm, making this visit one of the most unforgettable moments of the day.
The Mascot Madness movement made its final stop in Galeshewe, where the Red Rush team and Gemmie delivered one last high-energy routine in the heart of the community. This stop marked the official wrap-up of the first activation leading up to the highly anticipated Varsity Shield opener, where FNB SPU will face FNB UKZN at the Suzuki Stadium on 14 February – a milestone that is not just historic for SPU, but for Kimberley and the entire Northern Cape. Mascot Monday was just the beginning. The call is out for the city, and the province, to stand behind our rugby team – because history is in the making, and there’s still more to come.