The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is thrilled to announce the return of the 16th edition of the South African Sport Awards (SASA). This year’s theme is Celebrating sports excellence. The awards will be held on Saturday, 25 March 2023 at the Sun City Superbowl in the North - West Province.
South Africa's top athletes and sport administrators will be honoured again this year. These awards are particularly significant because they recognise the excellence demonstrated by the athletes. In addition, the awards highlight a year in which women- in- sports gave hope and unity in our country when it was much needed.
The awards carry a total of 19 categories including the Sport Star of the Year award and the People’s Choice Athlete of the Year award. All categories recognise performances from the individuals, teams, and administrators of the South African sporting fraternity for the period under review (i.e.) 01 September 2021 - 31 August 2022.
Minister Kodwa in his nominees reveal remarks indicated the following:
“The South African Sport Awards serves to recognise and honour individuals and teams within the Sporting fraternity who have excelled both on and off the field of Sport. The awards period under review is, 1st September 2021 – 31 August 2022 and this prestigious recognition event will be delivered under the theme ‘Celebrating sporting excellence’.
Arts and Culture plays an important role in enhancing social cohesion, nation building and contribution to the growth of the economy of the country, it therefore gives me great pleasure to announce that a similar recognition event with primary focus on the creatives is on the pipeline” – he concluded.
The SA Sport Awards 2022 Nominees are:
SPORT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR
- Portia Dimu
- Sibongile Fondini
- Cornelia Swanepoel
SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
- Michaela Whitebooi
- Lara Van Niekerk
- Shabnim Ismael
SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
- Akani Simbine
- Andy Birkett
- Pieter Coetzee
SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR WITH A DISABILITY
- Jonathan Ntutu
- Donald Ramphadi
- Christian Sadie
SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR WITH A DISABILITY
- Cornelle Leach
- Kat Swanepoel
- Minke Janse Van Rensburg
COACH OF THE YEAR
- Neil Powell
- Hilton Moreeng
- Rocco Meiring
SPORTS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
- Thato Moeng
- Hloni Mthimkhulu
- Mathews Mpete
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
- Samkelo Gambushe
- Ronnie Tippett
- Steve Haag
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
- Simnikiwe Bongco
- Marco Jansen
- Mustapha Cassiem
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
- Joy Goulooze (Life saving)
- Zizo Popu (Eastern Cape)
- Marissa Potgieter (Para-Sport Classifier)
SPORTS STAR OF THE YEAR
- Andile Dlamini
- Ashleigh Buhai
- Mathew Sates
TEAM OF THE YEAR
- Banyana Banyana
- Proteas Women ODI
- SA Rugby 7s
FEDERATION OF THE YEAR
- Cricket South Africa
- South African National Boxing Organisation
- South African Sport Association for The Physically Disabled
RECREATION BODY OF THE YEAR
- Peace Players SA
- Waves For Change
- Color Run SA
INDIGENOUS GAME TEAM
- Limpopo-Ncuva
- KZN-Khoko
- Eastern Cape-Drie Stokkies
SCHOOL TEAM OF THE YEAR
- Edendale THS (Women’s football)
- Drostdy High School (Tug of war)
- St Benedict’s College (Rowing)
DEVELOPING SCHOOL OF THE YEAR
- Kopanong Primary School (Cricket)
- Madiba-A-Toloana (Rowing)
- Helen Frans Special School (Wheelchair Tennis)
PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD (this category Sport fans are encouraged to participate by voting for their athlete of choice by dialling *120*32020# followed by an alphabet representing your athlete of choice) and the nominees are:
- Refiloe Jane
- Ayabonga Khakha
- Tatjana Schoenmaker
- Themba Zwane
- Kagiso Rabada
For Media Enquiries:
Zimasa Velaphi
Chief Director Communications & Marketing
Cell: 072 172 8925
E: mail: zimasav@dac.gov.za
Mickey Fusi Modisane
Chief Director Stakeholder Relations & Special Projects
Cell 082 992 0101
E-mail: mickeym@dsac.gov.za
