WeeklySA_AdminTeaser: Sprint icon Akani Simbine claimed South African sport’s highest individual honour at Sun City, while Pieter Coetzé, Prudence Sekgodiso and the Proteas men’s Test team were among the major winners at the 19th SA Sports Awards…
By Sipho Maluka
South African sprinting great Akani Simbine was crowned Sport Star of the Year at the 19th South African Sport Awards held at the Sun City Superbowl in North West.
The three-time Olympian received the ceremony’s most prestigious award ahead of Proteas Test captain Temba Bavuma and Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx.
Simbine, 32, has been one of South Africa’s most consistent international athletes and is widely regarded as the greatest sprinter the country has produced. His victory represented a fitting acknowledgement of a career defined by longevity, consistency and excellence against the world’s fastest athletes.
The awards, staged under the theme “Crowned by Greatness”, celebrated the achievements of South African athletes, teams, coaches, administrators, officials, volunteers and sports journalists during the period from January 1 to December 31, 2025.
Athletics enjoyed a successful evening, also producing the Sportswoman of the Year, Coach of the Year and Youth/Junior Sport Star of the Year.
Middle-distance runner Prudence Sekgodiso was crowned Sportswoman of the Year, overcoming competition from Proteas women’s cricket captain Laura Wolvaardt and canoeist Kira Bester.
Rising sprint star Bayanda Walaza won the Youth/Junior Sport Star of the Year award, while athletics mentor Thabo Matebedi was named Coach of the Year ahead of swimming coach Rocco Meiring and Proteas Test coach Shukri Conrad.
Swimming also claimed one of the ceremony’s major prizes when Pieter Coetzé was named Sportsman of the Year. Coetzé beat golfer Christiaan Maas and heavyweight boxer Kevin Lerena to the award.
South Africa’s para-athletes were similarly honoured for their achievements. Puseletso Mabote was named Sportsman of the Year with a Disability, while discus thrower Simoné Kruger received the Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability award.
Cricket scores major honours
Cricket emerged as one of the biggest winners of the night, with Cricket South Africa named National Federation of the Year.
The Proteas men’s Test cricket side received the Sport Team of the Year award, completing a memorable double for the sport.
Although Bavuma missed out on the overall Sport Star of the Year award, his leadership and contribution to South African cricket were recognised with a Minister’s Excellence Recognition Award.
He received the honour alongside hockey star Mustapha Cassiem, Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick, long-distance runner Adriaan Wildschutt, canoeist Tasneem Solomons and strongman competitor Rayno Nel.
The Junior Springboks were named Youth/Junior Sport Team of the Year, strengthening rugby’s representation among the major winners.
Rugby referee Aimee Barrett-Theron won the Technical Official of the Year award, recognising her contribution to officiating at the highest level.
Contributors behind the scenes honoured
The ceremony also celebrated administrators, volunteers and organisations whose work sustains sport away from the glare of competition.
Tennis administrator Anthony Moruthane was named Sport Administrator of the Year, while Nqobile Kunene of rural horse racing received the Sport Volunteer of the Year award.
Khokho Association South Africa was recognised as the Recreation Body of the Year.
The awards also honoured the journalists and photographers responsible for bringing South Africa’s sporting stories to the public.
Skhu Nkomphela was named Sport Visual Journalist of the Year, while broadcaster Rachel Makhura received the Sports Media Journalist of the Year award.
Veterans receive special recognition
Several veterans who have made lasting contributions to South African sport were honoured through special recognition awards.
Veli Nhlapo, Selwyn Nathan and Siya Vabaza-Booi received the Steve Tshwete Lifetime Recognition Award.
Patson Banda, Professor Mlungisi Ngubane, Teenage Dladla and Willie Mtolo were presented with the Andrew Mlangeni Green Jacket, an honour reserved for distinguished figures whose contributions have helped shape the country’s sporting history.
Yet the evening ultimately belonged to Simbine, whose selection as Sport Star of the Year placed another milestone alongside a career that has carried South African sprinting onto the global stage.
After years of competing among the world’s elite and shouldering the country’s hopes in the blue-riband 100m event, Simbine finally stood at the summit of South African sport—crowned ahead of two of the country’s most celebrated team-sport figures.
2026 SA Sports Awards winners
- Sport Star of the Year: Akani Simbine — athletics
- Sportsman of the Year: Pieter Coetzé — swimming
- Sportswoman of the Year: Prudence Sekgodiso — athletics
- Sportsman of the Year with a Disability: Puseletso Mabote — para-athletics
- Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability: Simoné Kruger — para-athletics
- National Federation of the Year: Cricket South Africa
- Sport Team of the Year: Proteas men’s Test cricket team
- Coach of the Year: Thabo Matebedi — athletics
- Youth/Junior Sport Star of the Year: Bayanda Walaza — athletics
- Youth/Junior Sport Team of the Year: South Africa men’s Under-20 rugby team
- Sport Volunteer of the Year: Nqobile Kunene — rural horse racing
- Sport Administrator of the Year: Anthony Moruthane — tennis
- Technical Official of the Year: Aimee Barrett-Theron — rugby
- Recreation Body of the Year: Khokho Association South Africa
- Sport Visual Journalist of the Year: Skhu Nkomphela
- Sports Media Journalist of the Year: Rachel Makhura
