LONDON – Heading into the race the team was already in the spotlight and carried South Africa’s medal hopes on the back of their silver winning effort at the World Championships in Daegu last year coupled with the fact that one of the Games’ most high-profile athletes, Oscar Pistorius, was also part of the setup.

Shaun de Jager was tasked with getting the South African charge off to a quick start and his lap went off without a hitch as he sat midfield before handing the baton to Ofentse Mogawane. Mogowane and that’s when the drama started.

Heading out of the final bend, Kenya’s Vincent Kiilu obstructed Mogawane’s racing line causing the South African to clip heels and take a tumble, ending South Africa’s race with less than half run but the action didn’t stop there.

With their participation in tonight’s final effectively nulled as a result of their failure to finish, Team South Africa launched a complaint and protested the final result.

“The Kenyan athlete committed obstruction which is in rule 163.2 of the IAAF so we appealed based on that rule. We got the result and we won the appeal and will be participating as team No 9,” confirmed athletics team manager, and former Olympic medallist, Hezekiel Sepeng.

The team will be forced into making a change as Mogowane’s Olympic ended with a dislocated shoulder and he won’t be taking his place in the race tonight. Instead, LJ van Zyl – a bronze medallist in Daegu – will take his place in what will be a perfect opportunity to finally atone for his first round exit in the 400m hurdles on the first day of the track and field competition last week.

“We are happy that, after due process and the correct protocol were followed, justice has been seen to be done and our men will take their rightful place in the final, said chef de mission in the aftermath of today's dramatic events.

Meanwhile, Lehann Fourie’s Olympic campaign may have ended with a seventh placed finish in the final of the men’s 110m hurdles behind Aries Merritt of the United States but the 25-year-old has admitted that his performance at the Games has re-ignited his motivation to compete.

“I was going to re-evalaute everything. I got tired of the injuries and tired of the way I was going on but I think making the Olympic final has definitely given me a little bit more motivation to try harder and I know I can run faster and work towards 2016,” said Fourie who came close to setting a new African and South African record in the semifinal of the Games.