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Sport and recreation
Introduction
Sport has the potential to build social cohesion and national unity, as demonstrated by the euphoria when South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 1995 and 2007, the African Cup of Nations in 1996, and also in 2004 when the country won the bid to host the 2010 FIFA World CupTM.
The United Nations (UN) recognises participation insport and recreation as a fundamental human right which all governments should make available to their people. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom. Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) acknowledges that sport is a provincial and local competency in accordance with Section 5 of the Constitution, but that the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act, 2005 (Act 13 of 2005) [PDF], requires that the three spheres of government must plan and deliver services in an integrated manner.
The SRSA is responsible for developing and implementing national policies and programmes regarding sport and recreation in the country. In its strategic direction, the department endeavours to fulfil this mandate by contributing towards transforming South Africa into a country that belongs to all who live in it, united in their diversity.
Sport in South Africa is a multibillion rand industry and contributes more than 2% to the country’s gross domestic product. The SRSA aims to improve the quality of life of all South Africans by creating an environment conducive to maximising access to participation in sport and recreation, as well as hosting and participating in world-class events that enhance nation-building.
The key objectives of the SRSA are to: - increase the number and enhance the quality of South African sport and recreation participants
- raise sport’s profile, especially among decision-makers, in the face of conflicting and competing priorities by building a case for sport and recreation in order to increase resources
- maximise the probability of success of South African teams and individuals in major events
- place sport in the forefront of efforts to address issues of national importance (i.e. using sport as a medium to contribute to the achievement of positive outcomes for South African society)
- contribute to the success of the 2010 World Cup through relevant actions.
In addition to the line-function activities, the SRSA is also directly responsible for:
- managing the budget for sport and recreation in the national government
- supporting the Office of the Minister and Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation
- providing support, from a government perspective, to all stakeholders in sport and recreation
- ensuring that integrated sports-management information is available to all stakeholders
- interpreting broad government policy, translating government policy into policies for sport and recreation for South Africa, revising such policies if and when necessary, and monitoring the implementation thereof
- initiating, co-ordinating and contributing to the development of relevant legislation for sport and recreation
- subsidising clients of the SRSA in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act 1 of 1999) [PDF], the SRSA strategic objectives, and funding policy; monitoring and evaluating the application of such funds; and advising clients on the management of their finances and good governance
- acknowledging the outstanding contributions of sportspeople to South African society in partnership with SABC Sport and the South African Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc)
- communicating sport- and recreation-related matters from a government perspective
- maintaining an effective and proactive liaison with Parliament, including a prompt response to all parliamentary questions on sport and recreation matters.
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Programmes
Sports Tourism Project
The SRSA launched the Sport Tourism Project at the Durban Tourism Indaba in May 2006. The primary objective of the project is to exploit the substantial benefits that the tourism industry presents for job creation in South Africa.
It combines the Veza route-finder tool, developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, with sports information, enabling users to plan attendance of sports events, including mapping the route to the venue, booking accommodation, and selecting restaurants and other tourist attractions in the vicinity of the venue or elsewhere in South Africa. Tourism is widely recognised as a major growth sector internationally and it is estimated that 30% of all tourism comprises sports tourism. The SRSA aims to enhance the sustainability of the project by: - promoting “home-grown” events such as the Dusi Canoe Marathon, Pick ‘n Pay Argus Cycle Tour, Midmar Mile (swimming), Berg and Breede river canoe marathons and the Comrades and Two Oceans marathons, which attract large numbers of international participants and spectators
- working closely with South African Tourism and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism to promote more attractive tourist packages for spectators who want to accompany touring sports teams to South Africa
- assisting agencies, in line with a major events strategy and the hosting and bidding regulations, to attract major international sports events to South Africa
- marketing South Africa’s sport and recreation facilities, such as golf courses and beaches, abroad
- producing an interactive CD-ROM to provide information on sport and recreation events, and associated information on South Africa
- publishing the Sports Atlas, which is a high-quality fold-out map featuring the major sporting venues and events and tourist attractions.
Mass participation
The Siyadlala Mass Participation Programme (SMPP) is the cradle of community sport in South Africa. The programme was launched in 2005 to facilitate access to sport and recreation by as many South Africans as possible, especially those from historically disadvantaged communities. The SRSA launched the programme with a budget of R20 million.
The budget has since increased to R194 million with the inclusion of school sport and club development. Hubs (centres of activity) have increased from 36 to 289, with over two million participants in various activities ranging from indigenous games to rugby, soccer, netball, baseball, general gymnastics, hockey, aerobics, handball, boxing, cricket, swimming, dance sport, volleyball and basketball. The eventual aim is to ensure that no child has to walk more than five kilometres to access an activity hub anywhere in the country. The ideal is to establish at least one hub in every ward in every municipality across South Africa. The SMPP is expected to enable the sport sector to contribute to the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa. Some 8 000 unemployed young people were expected to be recruited and trained by mid-2007. The trained youth will then be employed as activity co-ordinators. Research done in the hubs indicates that small stipends given to these co-ordinators contribute to feeding up to eight families in some instances. By mid-2007, the SMPP had also trained over 2 000 young volunteers in sport-and-recreation administration, over 1 500 entry-level coaches, over 1 200 referees, and over 2 000 people in event management and first aid.
Women and Sport
This project aims to address the gender imbalances in sport and recreation both at participation and administrative level, by:
- gender mainstreaming
- equity, access opportunities, diversity, legacy, active participation, research, leadership and skills development
- sustainable programmes through tested practice initiatives, including girl-child programmes
- availing resources and capacity
- developing mentorship programmes and role-modelling.
The programme also seeks partnerships with relevant stakeholders such as the Department of Education.
The following Women and Sport activities were co-ordinated in 2006/07:
- the SRSA celebrated Women’s Month through Women in Sport seminars and female sports festivals
- roadshows in rural areas on breaking barriers in leadership and cultural constraints
- seminars on the media’s portrayal of women and sport and opportunities
- 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children
- gender and HIV and AIDS seminars
- research on women and sport participation
- monitoring and evaluating programmes in the provinces and ensuring that national sporting bodies have gender desks and policies with set targets on the promotion of women in their codes
- international participation by sharing best practices and presentations
- involvement in the International Working Group conferences and seminars.
The programme also aims to support and encourage the participation of women in male-dominated federations.
Participation levels of women in sport has increased immensely:
- In 2006, over 2 000 women participated in soccer, boxing, rugby, cricket, netball and basketball.
- The SRSA trained over 900 women in various courses, including leadership management.
- During the National Girls Games in August 2006, the girls participated in soccer, cricket and amateur boxing. As part of talent identification, three girls were identified to join the under-19 national soccer squad and two joined the Banyana Banyana team.
The SRSA hosted a national conference on Women and Sport in August 2006. The conference attracted over 150 delegates. The conference focused on:
- women leadership
- sponsorship
- cultural diversity.
The national women’s rugby team participated in the
Women Rugby World Cup, held in Canada in 2006.
In August 2007, an international professional boxing tournament was held. The SRSA also hosted the National Ladies Boxing Tournament to celebrate International Women’s Day. Over 40 women from the nine provinces participated. The plan is to promote and encourage participation in Rural Girl’s Games in all nine provinces with the following federations: netball, soccer, athletics and baseball.
Mass mobilisation
The project aims to create awareness among ordinary South Africans by popularising the logo and other 2010 FIFA World Cup symbols.
Indigenous games
Together with the provincial departments responsible for sport and recreation, the SRSA annually hosts the Indigenous Games Festival in celebration of Africa’s cultural diversity and in an effort to revive indigenous games. The revival of indigenous games in South Africa evolved as a response to the national call to embrace the African Renaissance.
This revival is intended to popularise those cultural activities that have a particular appeal to vast sectors of the South African society, particularly the traditional rural people. Due to the fact that sport and recreation activities are predominantly practised in urban areas and are largely Eurocentric, the revival of indigenous games is essential to get more South Africans more active. Indigenous games are a fundamental part of the SMPP, which focuses on both vertical and horizontal sport development. Apart from indigenous games, the programme also incorporates, among other things, an active inner-city programme, Women and Sport, and corporate recreation. The fourth annual National Indigenous Games Festival took place in Mdantsane, East London, in August 2007. The festival was titled Celebrating South African Poetry, Demonstrating our Heritage through Indigenous Games.
North West was the 2007 indigenous games champion, having also won in 2003, 2005 and 2006. There will be no Indigenous Games Festival in 2008 as South Africa will be hosting the Zone VI Under-20 Youth Games.
The indigenous games are: Ugqaphu/Kgati/Ntimo, Diketo/Upuca/ Magave, Morabaraba/ Mlabalaba, Ncuva/Ntijwa/Tsoro/ Tshimaya/Moruba, Dibeke/Diwiki/Snuka/Skununu/Umabhorisha, Jukskei, Kho-Kho and Iintonga/Melamu/Iziduku.
Recreation Rehabilitation Programme
The project focuses on inmates and aims to promote sport and recreation participation in correctional centres. It also aims to empower prisoners in event management and to become activity co-ordinators in the following activities: general gymnastics, indigenous games, netball, soccer and handball. The focus in 2006 was on general gymnastics.
School sport
The SRSA’s work in school sport had its beginnings in 2005 when a framework of collaboration, entitled Co-ordination and Management of School Sport in Public Ordinary Schools was signed by the ministers of sport and recreation, and of education.
The framework document describes firstly the common understanding that the SRSA and the Department of Education has about the important role of physical activity and sport in schools. Besides emphasising the importance of providing all children with access to physical activity at school, it also touches on teacher capacity-building, sports facilities, and the importance of linking school sport to issues of national importance such as HIV and crime prevention. The framework goes on to describe the responsibility of each of the two government departments as far as school sport goes. It matches levels of responsibility with specific activities and target groups. In broad terms, the Department of Education is responsible for:
- intracurricular activities, including Physical Education in schools
- intraschool activities, including afterschool sports activities
- interschool activities and competitions below regional level
- regional and intraprovincial activities and competitions, in collaboration with provincial sports and education authorities.
The SRSA has established the Directorate: School Sport within the Chief Directorate: Mass Participation. It consists of two sections: Competitive School Sport and Mass Participation in School Sport. This programme reaches about 1 600 schools nationally and focuses on capacity-building, provision of sports equipment for use at events, and sustaining the programme by supporting local sports assistants, local leagues and providing logistical support. The National Co-ordinating Committee (Nacoc), envisaged in the school sport framework, has been established. Nacoc has drafted and adopted a five-year school sport programme for 2007 to 2011. School-sport events include national schools aquatics, national schools athletics, the South African schools winter games, summer games and cross country. Nacoc aims to integrate the national Schools Sport Programme, making it as inclusive as possible. Progress has been made with school-sport initiatives. Two school-sport programmes have been launched. The first is designed to ensure access to the masses of learners. It should serve as the entry point of the development continuum for sport in schools. The second is aimed at a smaller group of elite performers who participate in regular tournaments that channel them to the next level of participation. The School Sport Mass Participation Programme received more than R110 million in funding in 2007/08. This will ensure that regular sports programmes in seven codes of sport are taken to the poorest of the poor schools in the country. Physical Education is now receiving more attention, after it was found that its demise in schools contributed to South Africa’s performance at international level. Getting more girls involved in sport is also a priority. The SRSA has twinned 26 schools with 26 sports colleges in the United Kingdom (UK). This has assisted in capacity-building of 26 teachers who visited their twin institutions in the UK in 2006. Also, 52 UK sport-development officers visited South Africa and conducted workshops for their South African colleagues.
International affairs
South Africa continues to play a leading role in forums such as the World Anti-Doping Association (Wada), African Union, Supreme Council of Sport and in other binationals. National federations such as netball, cricket, swimming, hockey, cycling and korfball have been twinned with the UK, the Nederlands and Flanders.
Diving, boxing, handball, judo and volleyball have been linked with China, Cuba and Algeria. By mid2007, nine students were studying towards a degree in Physical Education and Sport in Cuba through a generous scholarship provided by the Cuban Government. Limpopo and the Free State are beneficiaries of graduates from this programme.
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Sporting accolades
South African Sports Awards
The SRSA and Sascoc are joint custodians of the South African Sports Awards, in partnership with the SABC. South African sports stars are presented with awards for their efforts to keep the passion for sport alive in the hearts of millions of South Africans through their achievements in local and international sports events.
The awards recognise and honour individuals and teams who have excelled both on and off the field each year as well as the critical contributions made by coaches, technical officials and volunteers who continue to keep sport running.
Legislation
In 2006, several pieces of legislation were referred to the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) for consideration. Prominent among these was the 2010 World Cup Special Measures Bill [PDF] that sought to amend all “nonmoney” Acts that may impede the implementation of guarantees that government provided to FIFA when bidding for the event. The Act was passed in July 2006.
The Safety at Sport and Recreation Events Bill [PDF] was also put before Cabinet for consideration. It constitutes an important tool in the security arrangements for the World Cup.
During 2006, Cabinet passed the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids) Amendment Bill [PDF]. The Bill aims to bring South Africa in line with developments in the Wada and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s Convention on Anti-Doping, and to improve the efficiency of the institute at countering athletes’ use of banned performance-enhancing substances, particularly through increased out-of-competition testing and education.
The Sport and Recreation Amendment Bill [PDF] that aims to improve the governance of sports federations, and allows the Minister of Sport and Recreation to intervene where the actions of federations threaten to bring sport into disrepute, was referred to the NCOP after it was passed by Cabinet. It also seeks to address transformation in sport.
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2010 World Cup
South Africa will host the FIFA World Cup in 2010. The Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane is one of five venues South Africa is building from scratch for world football’s showpiece event.
The other four are the Greenpoint Stadium in Cape Town; Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga; Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape; and the Durban Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal.
The following five existing stadiums are being refurbished and upgraded: Soccer City and Ellis Park in Johannesburg; Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria; the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, North West; and Mangaung Stadium in Bloemfontein, Free State.
Government has reaffirmed its state of readiness and commitment to host the 2010 World Cup. By mid-2007, preparations for the 2010 World Cup were under way, including stadiums, transport and other infrastructure projects. The Government has set aside R17,4 billion of direct investment in the World Cup, which is integrated into a much larger spending programme between 2006 and 2010. During this period, government is expected to invest more than R400 billion in the country’s infrastructure. South Africa will take advantage of the World Cup opportunity to attract inward investment (construction, manufacturing and other sectors) and to stimulate new investment in stadiums, transport, airports, communications infrastructure, accommodation, broadcast and information technology, and financial services. The projects are also expected to stimulate skills development and create jobs, develop football and its commercial base, and upgrade facilities to ensure South Africa is a competitive destination for major events. Government will deliver according to the following deadlines: - September 2008: FIFA inspection team for readiness
- December 2008 to March 2009: construction work on selected stadiums complete (confederations cup stadiums)
- April to June 2009: preparation for Confederations Cup
- December 2009: stadium and supporting infrastructure complete
- June 2010: World Cup.
By mid-2007, the match planning had been completed, in accordance with FIFA regulations. This will enable South African security services to further detail their security plan. It will also enable detailed planning of transport routes and accommodation.
By May 2007, the construction of all stadiums was on schedule. The International Broadcast Centre (IBC) will ensure television coverage across the globe and will cater for more than 2 000 journalists. The South African Cabinet has approved Johannesburg as the venue for the IBC. About R600 million was spent in 2006/07. National Treasury was expected to bring forward R1,9 billion in October 2007. All stadium facilitaties will be ready by October 2009, to allow for the identification and allocation of seats and issuing of tickets.
The R9-billion investment in transport projects will accelerate the delivery of an efficient, sustainable and affordable transport system.
In addition to funding stadiums and transport, funding allocations for the delivery of government guarantees and programmes include, among other things: - R666 million for safety and security
- R2,5 billion for information and communications technology (ICT)
- ports of entry
- air (ICT): R71 million
- land (physical and ICT infrastructure): R1,5 billion
- sea: R1,5 million.
Government has allocated:
- R25 million for training of volunteers, which will build skills in the long term
- R17 million for community mobilisation
- R337 million for legacy projects
- R150 million for arts- and culture-related projects.
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Sports organisations
South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee
Sascoc is the controlling body for all high-performance sport in South Africa. It also prepares Team South Africa for all multisport international games, including the Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth, World Student and All Africa Games.
It has assumed functions relating to high-performance sport that were carried out by the following controlling bodies: Disability Sport South Africa, the National Olympic Committee of South Africa, South African Commonwealth Games Association, South African Sports Commission, South African Student Sports Union, and the United School Sports Association of South Africa.
Sascoc also:
- affiliates to and/or is recognised by the appropriate regional, international and continental sports organisations for high-performance sport
- initiates, negotiates, arranges, finances and controls multisport tours to and from South Africa
- ensures, and if necessary, approves that the bidding process relating to the hosting of international or any other sporting events in South Africa complies with the necessary rules and regulations
- ensures close co-operation between government and the private sector relating to all aspects of Team South Africa
- ensures the overall protection of symbols, trademarks, emblems or insignia of the bodies under its jurisdiction, including the Springbok and Protea logos
- co-ordinates the National Sports Academy (NSA) system to support the identification and development of talented athletes
Two public entities have been established to assist the SRSA with the delivery of specific interventions in sport and recreation in accordance with the relevant legislation through which they were constituted, namely:
National Sports Academy
The NSA Programme seeks to improve sports performance and bring South Africa on par with other sporting nations by creating opportunities for talented athletes to exploit their potential to the full.
Its short-term focus is on providing a one-stop, world-class training and support environment for identified sport, offering elite athletes the opportunity to prepare for the All Africa, Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is run in partnership with Sascoc. The NSA comprises a significant aspect of the delivery system in sport and recreation at high-performance level. It will eventually provide the necessary support for talented athletes, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Government allocated R16 million to the NSA in 2006/07.
Boxing South Africa
BSA is partly funded with public money. Its functions are to promote boxing and to protect the interests of boxers and officials. Its main responsibilities are to:
- consider applications for licences from all stakeholders in professional boxing
- sanction fights
- implement the regulations pertaining to boxing
- promote the interests of all stakeholders in boxing.
South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport
Saids is the South African national anti-doping organisation, funded by the SRSA. Its mandate is to promote participation in sport, free from the use of prohibited substances or methods intended to artificially enhance performance, in the interest of the health and well-being of sportspeople.
Saids is responsible for developing anti-doping policy and implementing a national anti-doping programme across all South Africa’s sports codes. It has over 50 part-time, accredited doping-control officers based throughout South Africa, trained to international standards, who conduct in-and-out competition testing on athletes from over 50 sports disciplines, with over 70 trained and accredited chaperones to assist the doping-control officers.
Saids is one of the few national anti-doping agencies worldwide with an ISO 9001:2000 certification in compliance with the International Testing Standards. This is the internationally recognised benchmark for quality assurance and excellence, and represents world best-practice in doping control in sport. Saids’ key focus areas are:
- Drug testing: the institute conducts a comprehensive, independent and effective national doping-control programme on South African athletes competing at regional, national and international level. Over 2 300 tests were conducted in 2006/07. It also conducts in-andout-of-competition testing on international athletes on behalf of international sports federations and other international anti-doping organisations.
- Education: Saids provides education and information resources and services for all its target groups, namely athletes, coaches, parents, sports organisations, members of the medical and pharmaceutical and sports-science professions, tertiary-education institutions and the public. It provides a telephone information service manned by qualified pharmacists (021 448 3888), and has a website with a database of prohibited and permitted products in sport that are available on the South African market (www.drugfreesport.org.za). It also contains up-to-date news and information on national and international anti-doping issues. Saids conducts a comprehensive monthly programme of lectures, workshops and anti-doping seminars throughout South Africa, and collaborates with role-players in education to include sports drugs in drug-awareness and education programmes conducted at school level.
- Research: Saids conducts sociological research into the knowledge, attitude and use of performance-enhancing drugs among South African sportspeople, for the purpose of planning and implementing effective drug-testing and education programmes.
- International collaboration: South Africa is an active participant in the global effort to combat drugs in sport. Saids collaborates closely with its counterparts throughout the world to achieve international harmonisation and the improvement of standards and practice in doping control. The Minister of Sport and Recreation, Rev. Makhenkesi Stofile, is a member of the World Ant-Doping Agency (Wada) Foundation Board and Executive Committee. South Africa is a member of the International Anti-Doping Arrangement and of the Executive Committee of the Association of National Anti-Doping Organisations.
World Anti-Doping Agency
The Africa Regional Office of Wada was established in Cape Town in 2004 to co-ordinate the anti-doping activities of the agency throughout Africa. This includes promoting and maintaining effective lines of communication between Wada and all the relevant stakeholders, governments and public authorities, the broad sports movement, national anti-doping agencies and laboratories.
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2007 sports highlights
Rugby World Cup
In September 2007, in its first match of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, South Africa beat Samoa 59-7. Wing Bryan Habana scored four tries. Any lingering doubts as to South Africa’s ability to reach the final were erased in a 36-0 thrashing of title-holders England. In their third game, South Africa beat Tonga 3025, and then went through to the quarter-final by beating the United States of America (USA) 64-15 in their Pool A game at Stade de la Mosson. The Springboks beat Fiji 37-20 at the Stade Vèlodrome in Marseille to advance to the semifinals of the Rugby World Cup. South Africa and Argentina, the last unbeaten southern hemisphere teams at the World Cup, met in the semi-finals. The Springbok’s took advantage of the Puma’s errors to cruise to a 37-13 victory, and book a place in the final against England, who defeated France in the other semi-final. On 20 October 2007, in the final, South Africa defeated England 15-6 at the Stade de France in Paris to clinch the William Webb Ellis trophy. The Springboks’ return was held back by a day as the team remained in Paris for the annual International Rugby Board (IRB) Awards Gala. The team picked up three major awards. Bryan Habana was named IRB Player of the Year, following in the footsteps of his teammate Schalk Burger, who won the award in 2004. Jake White was named Coach of the Year and the Springboks were named Team of the Year. After their World Cup-final victory, they also moved above the All Blacks to number one in the world rankings.
All Africa Games
The All Africa Games were held in July 2007 in Algiers. Egypt narrowly edged out Algeria on the medals table for first place, with South Africa securing third spot behind the two North African nations.
The Egyptians, a traditional power at the All Africa Games, won 74 gold medals and 199 medals overall to squeeze in ahead of the Algerians, who lifted their performance considerably over their showing in Abuja four years ago when they finished fourth in the standings. The hosts won more medals than the Egyptians, claiming 205, but they fell four short of their rivals in the gold medal stakes. It was Algeria’s best-ever showing at the All Africa Games. South Africa finished with 61 golds and 180 medals in total, with Nigeria, the 2003 hosts, who topped the medal table in Abuja, taking fourth place with 50 gold medals and 159 medals in all. Tunisia finished fifth with 48 golds. In total, 27 sporting disciplines were contested, with about 8 000 athletes from 52 countries participating.
South Africa dominated in the swimming pool, winning 53 medals, with the next-best return being Algeria’s 16 and Zimbabwe’s 15. South African men won 12 golds, seven silvers, and seven bronzes, while the women claimed 13 gold medals, nine silvers and five bronzes. The results reflected South Africa’s recent emergence as a country to be reckoned with in international swimming competitions. They were also especially encouraging given that local swimming stars on the world stage such as Roland Schoeman and Ryk Neethling did not take part. Paraplegic superstar Natalie du Toit excelled in the relays and won individual gold in the 1 500metre (m) freestyle. South Africa also performed well in athletics, winning the most medals with 24, although Algeria won the most golds; nine to South Africa’s seven. The Rainbow Nation’s men achieved the best results of any country, with the highlight provided by the 400-m hurdlers. They finished first, second and third, with LJ van Zyl taking gold in 48,74 seconds (sec), while Pieter de Villiers was awarded silver ahead of Alwyn Myburgh. In wheelchair athletics, South Africa finished second, picking up 14 medals, of which eight were for wins. There was also a gold medal for the wheelchair basketball team. South African sailors led the way in a competition that featured women’s and mixed racing. Of the nine golds on offer, South Africa picked up six. In another water-based sport, rowing, South Africa finished just one gold behind Algeria, although the team’s seven medals was one better than the hosts. After a tight fight against Nigeria, South Africa’s badminton team finished top of the table, winning two golds, three silvers and three bronzes. South Africa was also number one in cycling, with three gold medals out of the six on offer, and six medals in all. The wrestling team secured three gold medals and five bronzes to total eight medals in all. Gymnasts claimed 12 medals, with two golds among them. In chess, South Africa picked up 10 medals, with one gold. Due to a lack of facilities in Algeria for hockey, an Olympic qualifying tournament was held in Nairobi at the same time as the All Africa Games. Only the winners would qualify for Beijing 2008. South Africa’s women had no problem in securing their spot, beating Kenya 5-0 in the final.
Matters were tougher for the men who faced their traditional rivals, Egypt, for the prized Olympic place as African champions. The Egyptians took the lead in the 34th minute through Sameh Metwaly, but just five minutes later Emile Smith levelled for South Africa. Then, with only six minutes remaining, Geoff Abbot scored the winning goal for South Africa. Taking place every four years, in the year before the Olympic Games, the next All Africa Games, the 10th edition, will be hosted by Lusaka in Zambia in 2011.
Athletics
In April 2007, Oscar Pistorius broke three world records at the Nedbank Championships for the Physically Disabled in Johannesburg. He clocked a time of 49,16 sec in the 400 m, shaving 0,26 sec off the previous world record of 49,42 sec. Pistorius became the first amputee sprinter to dip below the 11-sec mark when he broke the 100-m world record in a time of 10,91 sec. He also clocked a time of 21,58 sec to break the 200-m world record of 21,66 sec he set at the World Championships in the Netherlands in 2006. In May 2007, Pistorius won two gold medals at the Paralympics World Cup for the 100 m and the 200 m in the T44 category. Teboho Mokogalagadi also secured two gold medals for South Africa; for the 100 m and 200 m in the T35 category. Bethuel Netshifhefhe broke a three-year Zimbabwean stranglehold on the men’s race as he won the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon in April.
Canoeing and skiing
In February 2007, Michael Mbanjwa, partnering Martin Dreyer, made canoeing history when he won the Stihl Non-Stop Dusi Canoe Marathon in record-breaking time. He became the first black paddler in the world to win a canoe marathon on the famous river. He and Dreyer finished in seven hours, 47 minutes and 40 sec to slice seven seconds off the previous record, set in 2000 by John and Andrew Edmonds.
In September 2007, paddler Barry Lewin won the US national double-ski title with Tahitian star Lewis Laughlan to end his month-long international tour on a high note, which also included a win in Souliga Challenge in the Caribbean Netherlands Antilles and victory in the Liffey Descent in Ireland.
Cricket
In April 2007, the South African cricket team, the Proteas, advanced to the semi-finals of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup hosted in the West Indies. However, in the semi-final, Australia beat the Proteas by seven wickets.
In June 2007, South Africa beat Ireland in Belfast, Ireland, in a one-day international (ODI) game by 42 runs. South Africa beat India in the first of three matches in June 2007 in Belfast, in the Future Cup. South Africa won with only three balls remaining. An unbeaten 61 by Yuvraj Singh guided India to a six-wicket win over South Africa in the third and deciding ODI of the Future Cup series. They also won the second ODI by six wickets. India won the series 2-1 despite losing the opening match. The 2-1 victory in Belfast also allowed India to avenge their 4-0 series whitewash in the previous ODI series held in South Africa. The Future Cup win over Proteas also marked India’s first series win overseas. In September 2007, South Africa hosted the first Twenty20 World Cup after successfully hosting the Cricket World Cup in 2003.
The 10-day, 12-nation event was played at three venues: the Wanderers in Johannesburg, Kingsmead in Durban and Newlands in Cape Town. The opening match between South Africa and the West Indies was won by eight wickets by the home side. South Africa cruised to a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in their match in Cape Town. Albie Morkel was the star of South Africas 19-run win over England in their Super Eights match in Cape Town. Morkel smashed 43 off 20 balls to resurrect South Africas innings and boost them to a defendable total of 154 for eight. A few days later, Justin Kemp hit six sixes for 89 not-out that set up a six-wicket victory over New Zealand in their match at Kingsmead in Durban.
However, a few days later South Africa crashed to a 37-run defeat at India’s hands, which knocked them out of the semi-final race on net run-rates. India went on to win the tournament. In October 2007, Dale Steyn took five wickets to dismiss Pakistan for 263 as South Africa won the first test in Karachi by 160 runs. South African cricketer Mark Boucher set a new world record for the most test dismissals by a wicketkeeper. Boucher’s record of 396 dismissals (378 catches and 18 stumpings) in 103 tests surpassed the record previously held by Ian Healy of Australia, who made 395 dismissals in 119 tests. Jacques Callis scored two test centuries. South Africa sealed their first test series on the subcontinent since 2000 afer being held to a draw by Pakistan in the second and final match. In October 2007, South Africa defeated Pakistan in the fifth and final ODI in Lahore, securing a rare double of test and one-day series wins in Pakistan.
Cycling
In 2007, along with Agritubel and Astana, Team Barloworld of South Africa became one of only three non-Pro Tour Series teams to be invited to participate in the Tour de France. They surprised the international cycling community when Mauricio Soler won the ninth stage of the 2007 Tour de France. Robert Hunter became the first South African to win a stage of the Tour de France. Hunter won a crash-hit bunch sprint at the end of the 11th stage ahead of Swiss time-trial world champion Fabian Cancellara and Brazil’s Murilo Fischer. Hunter’s victory gave Barloworld their second stage win of the race.
South Africa’s Team Barloworld wrapped up an outstanding debut at the Tour de France, with Hunter finishing fourth in the final stage and second in the points competition, while Soler captured the prestigious polka dot jersey, which is awarded to the King of the Mountains.
Golf
In January 2007, South Africa tied for 16th place in the Women’s World Cup of Golf held at Sun City, in North West. Paraguay won the event by a big seven-shot margin. The USA finished second, with South Korea in third place. In January 2007, Retief Goosen claimed the Qatar Masters by sinking a 15-m putt to steal a spectacular victory with a three-under-par 69. The win was worth over R2,4 million. In March 2007, up-and-coming Anton Haig won the Johnnie Walker Classic in Phuket, securing the title in a three-way play-off against fellow South African Richard Sterne and England’s Oliver Wilson. Charl Schwartzel captured his second European Tour title, and his first in mainland Europe, when he won the 2007 Spanish Open in April. In May 2007, South African Rory Sabbatini sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the first play-off hole to win the USA PGA Crowne Plaza Invitational, beating veterans Bernhard Langer and Jim Furyk. A birdie on the final hole at Celtic Manor earned South African Richard Sterne a one-stroke Wales Open victory in June 2007. The victory lifted Sterne to 35th in the world rankings, giving South Africa five players in the top35, including four in the top-15. In June 2007, Ashleigh Simon (18) won the Catalonia Masters. It was her first title and came only a month after she turned professional. By winning this tournament she became the youngest professional to win in Ladies European Tour history.
In October 2007, Ernie Els won his seventh World Match Play Championship title by beating Angel Cabrera 6 and 4. The win earned Els one million pounds.
Mountaineering
South African Sibusiso Vilane became the first black man to climb the seven highest peaks on seven continents. He reached the peak of Denali in Alaska in May 2007. The seven mountains are Denali, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Aconcagua in South America, Elbroes in Europe, Kosciuszko in Australia, Everest in Asia and Vinson Masif in Antarctica. In 2003, Vilane became the first black man to climb Everest.
Poker
Raymond Rahme beat 6 500 players to take third place in the world poker series in July 2007. Rahme won more than R21 million in the world’s biggest poker game in Los Angeles, USA.
Rugby
In May 2007, the Sharks and the Bulls rugby teams played in the final of the southern hemisphere tournament, the Super 14. It was the first time that two South African sides contested the final, the first final held on South African soil and the first final won by a South African team. Teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa participated in the tournament. The Bulls won the game 20-19 in the last minutes of the match. In May 2007, South Africa beat England 53-3 in a test in Bloemfontein. In June 2007, the Springboks beat England 55-22 in a test in Pretoria. In June 2007, the Springboks beat Samoa 35-8 in Johannesburg. South Africa beat Australia in the Tri-Nations rugby test at Newlands in June 2007, by scoring two drop-goals in the last few minutes. The final score was 22-19. The Springboks beat Namibia 105-13 in a World Cup warm-up match at Newlands in August 2007. In another warm-up game, South Africa beat the Irish provincial side Connacht 18-3. Also in August, South Africa beat Scotland 27-3 in their Rugby World Cup warm-up international played at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.
Soccer
In March 2007, Carlos Alberto Parreira got off to a winning start as coach of Bafana Bafana, as South Africa recorded a convincing 3-0 win over Chad in an African Nations Cup qualifier in N’Djamena. With Zambia and Congo drawing goalless in Brazzaville, the win saw South Africa move to the top of their qualifying group. Bafana Bafana consolidated their position at the top of Group 11 standings when they beat Chad 4-0 in the African Cup of Nations qualifier at Durban’s Absa Stadium in June 2007. It was Bafana Bafana’s biggest win since South Africa returned to international soccer 15 years ago. Bafana Bafana drew one all with the Congo in June 2007. This result left South Africa in prime position to book their place at the African Cup of Nations finals in Ghana in 2008. In September 2007, Bafana Bafana beat Botswana 1-0 in a Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) Castle Cup semifinal game at the Super Stadium in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria, and went through to the final against Zambia.
South Africa edged Zambia in Bloemfontein 4-3 on penalties to claim the Cosafa Castle Cup title. It was South Africa’s second victory in the 10-year history of the Cosafa Castle Cup. The win also meant the trophy will remain in South African hands as it was the last match to be played in the Cosafa Castle Cup.
Surfing
In January 2007, 19-year-old Jordy Smith claimed the Billabong Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Junior Championship title after a hard-fought victory over Brazil’s Adriano de Souza, ranked 20th in the world. In March 2007, Smith claimed his maiden win on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) by defeating a top-class international field in the four-star, R550 000-Hot Tuna Central Coast Pro in Australia. Smith rocketed to the top of the WQS rankings, following a fifth-place finish in the R700 000-Sri Lankan Airlines Pro at Pasta Point in the Maldives. He amassed 10 063 points from his best seven results on the 2007 WQS. In August 2007, he went on to win the R850 000-Sooruz Lacanau Pro by defeating Spanish Basque surfer Aritz Aranburu in the 35-minute final. His victory was worth R105 000 and 2 500 ratings points, and put him ahead on the WQS.
Swimming
In March 2007, Roland Schoeman won gold in the 50-m butterfly at the Fina World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, in a time of 23,18 sec, matching the time he recorded in the semi-finals. Gerhard Zandberg won the men’s 50-m backstroke gold medal at the championships, touching in 24,98 sec. Natalie du Toit claimed three victories at the Paralympic World Cup in May; in the multidisability (MD) 100-m freestyle, the S9 100-m freestyle and the MD 50-m freestyle.
Riaan Schoeman was the talk of the South African swimming squad after winning the 400-m individual medley final in a new South African record time, on the second day of an international swimming meeting in Tokyo, Japan. In October, Durban’s Kings Park Aquatic Centre hosted the first leg of the 2007 Fina/Arena Swimming World Cup. Roland Schoeman and Gerhard Zandberg excelled, with Zandberg winning seven medals, three of them gold. Susan van Biljon matched Zandberg, claiming three titles as she dominated the breaststroke to win the 50-, 100- and 200-m titles. In total, 10 meeting records fell and four African records were established. South Africa finished with 16 wins. Later in October, at the second final leg in Singapore, Schoeman was a comfortable winner in the 100-m freestyle in a time of 47,34. He claimed his second gold in the 50-m breaststroke in a time of 27,45 sec. His hat-trick of victories came in the 100-m individual medley. On day two of the competition, Schoeman added a fourth gold medal when he won the 50-m freestyle in 21,61 sec. Other South African gold-medal winners were William Diering (200-m breaststroke) and Melissa Corfe (200-m and 400-m freestyle).
Tennis
In January 2007 at the year’s first tennis major, the Australian Open, there was success for South Africa as Liezel Huber teamed up with Zimbabwe’s Cara Black to win the women’s doubles title. Second seeds Black and Huber won their second
Wimbledon women’s doubles title in three years in Triathlon July 2007. Hendrik de Villiers became the first-ever South The African pair came from a set down to win African winner of a World Cup triathlon event when 3-6 6-3 6-2 and capture their second grand slam he claimed line honours in the Richards Bay title of the year. Triathlon World Cup in May.
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Source: South Africa Yearbook 2007/08
Editor: D Burger. Government Communication and Information
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Last modified: 08 August 2008 13:20:00. |
