Last night, the opulent halls of the Sun City Superbowl were transformed into a pantheon for South Africa’s finest. The 2026 South African Sports Awards honoured the blood, sweat, and breathtaking triumphs that defined the 2025 sporting calendar. It was an evening where the echoes of starting pistols, the quiet focus of the pool, and the roar of packed stadiums converged into a singular, beautiful celebration of our nation’s sporting spirit.
From the global icons who carry our flag across the world to the quiet heroes working tirelessly behind the scenes in rural communities, the night was a testament to South African resilience and excellence.
The Crown Jewel: Akani Simbine
Sport Star of the Year (R500,000 Reward) The evening’s highest honour belonged to a man whose consistency is nothing short of legendary. Akani Simbine walked away with the grand prize after a monumental 2025. He etched his name into the annals of global athletics by becoming the first athlete in the world to run the 100 meters in under 10 seconds for 11 consecutive seasons. Adding a bronze medal at the World Indoors (60m) and anchoring the South African 4x100m relay team to a golden finish at the World Relays in China, Simbine remains the beating heart of South African sprinting.
The Kings and Queens of 2025
Each of the following category winners was rewarded with R50,000 for their exceptional contributions.
Sportsman of the Year: Pieter Coetze In the water, Pieter Coetze was untouchable. He became the first South African to win medals in all three backstroke events at the World Swimming Championships in Singapore, claiming gold in the 100m, and silver in both the 50m and 200m categories. He further cemented his dominance with two golds and a silver at the World University Games in Germany.
Sportswoman of the Year: Prudence Sekgodiso Sekgodiso started the year like lightning and never looked back. Her blistering gold medal-winning performance in the 800m at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in China made history, she is the first South African to ever win an indoor world athletics title.
Sportsman of the Year with a Disability: Puseletso Mabote Mabote was a force of nature, securing Team SA’s first gold medal at the World Para Athletic Championships. He won the men’s 100m T63 final in a championship-record time of 12.03 seconds. Earlier in the meet, he set a new African record with a 7.01-meter jump, finishing 4th in the Long Jump.
Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability: Simoné Kruger The world record holder defended her crown with unmatched power. At the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, Kruger struck gold in the women’s discus F38, launching a massive season’s best throw of 37.39 meters on her fourth attempt.
Youth Junior Sport Star of the Year: Bayanda Walaza A rising superstar on the track, Walaza ran the crucial lead leg for the gold medal-winning 4x100m relay team in China, and completely dominated the World University Games in Germany with double gold in the 100m and 200m sprints.
Teams and the Minds Behind Them
Sport Team of the Year: Protea Men’s Test Cricket Team Shrugging off the ghosts of the past, Temba Bavuma led his men to seven consecutive Test victories, culminating in a historic 5-wicket win over Australia at Lord’s to claim the ICC Test Championship. It was South Africa’s first win in this event and their first ICC trophy since 1998.
Coach of the Year: Thabo Matebedi “Coach T” has been the master architect behind the phenomenal rise of South African sprinting. As head coach, his strategies secured double gold at the World Relays. He continues to shape the future, guiding elite young talents like Bayanda Walaza, Gift Leotlela, and Sinesifo Dambile.
Youth Junior Sport Team of the Year: SA Men’s U20 Rugby Facing an unbeaten New Zealand side in the final, the Junior Boks showed immense grit. While both teams scored two tries, flyhalf Busimoyo’s deadly accurate kicking secured a 23-15 victory, marking South Africa’s second win in the prestigious event.
The Pillars of the Game
Greatness on the field is impossible without the tireless dedication of those off it.
- National Federation of the Year: Cricket South Africa capitalized on the Proteas’ World Test Championship glory, translating on-field triumph into massive fan engagement and robust commercial partnerships.
- Technical Official of the Year: Aimee Barrett-Theron continues to referee with integrity and excellence. In 2025, she took charge of major United Rugby Championship fixtures and officiated at the World Rugby Women’s World Cup, including the opening match.
- Sport Administrator of the Year: Anthony Moruthane drove tennis forward as General Manager, successfully expanding school reach, growing competitive talent, ensuring financial sustainability, and hosting major events, including two Davis Cup ties.
- Recreation Body of the Year: The Khokho Association of South Africa embodied pure passion. Competing with zero funding, the national team traveled to the inaugural Khokho World Cup in New Delhi and earned a spectacular bronze medal, driving a massive surge in local participation.
- Sport Volunteer of the Year: Nqobile Kunene changed lives by expanding access to equestrian sports for rural youth, particularly girls, in KwaZulu-Natal. Her leadership brought structured development and the first provincial rural horse racing event to eThekwini.
The Voices and the Visionaries
- Sport Visual Journalist of the Year: Skhu Nkomphela The Cape Town-based freelance photographer turned his lens away from traditional glory to capture the raw resilience and determination found in the often-overlooked world of university sports.
- Sport Media Journalist of the Year: Rachel Makhura Presenting two weekend sports radio shows on Radio 2000 under SABC Sport, Makhura was honoured for her brilliantly diverse broadcasting and her ability to give voice to multiple sporting codes.
Andrew Mlangeni Green Jacket Recipients
The night concluded by draping the prestigious Green Jackets over the shoulders of true South African legends, honouring their lifelong dedication to the sporting fabric of the nation:
- William Mtolo
- Teenage Dladla
- Prof. Mlungisi Ngubane
- Patson Banda
- Martin Cohen
As the lights dimmed at Sun City, one thing was clear: the state of South African sport is not just healthy; it is roaring, resilient, and ready for whatever comes next.
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