A packed to the rafters’ house witnessed the 9th annual Gauteng Sports Awards that lived up to its reputation of being one of the greatest and glitzy sporting events hosted in the Province.
Caster Semenya scooped the biggest prize of the night as she won Sport Personality of the year at the Gauteng Sport Awards.
The event was recently held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on a Sunday evening were Gauteng’s top sporting talent was rewarded during a night fit for the stars. Held under the theme ‘Celebrating Excellence, Inspiring the Youth: 25 years of democracy’.
The glitz and glamorous event attracted a galaxy of stars from across Gauteng as guests of MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Mbali Hlophe.
The packed house was also mesmerised by a stand-out performances by the likes of TKZee and Busiswa and others.
Akani Simbine and Tatjana Schoenmaker were amongst one of the big winners on the night, as they scooped the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards.
Meanwhile, 8-year Minenhle Miya was the youngest winner of the night, scooping the most promising athlete of the year award.
One worthy recipient Ria Ledwaba, SAFA’s Deputy President was honoured for her dedication and hard work in the sporting environment in Gauteng with the MEC’s Special Award.
“This was truly a spectacular evening of celebrating sporting excellence in the Gauteng Province, the home of champions. It is such a tremendous honour to have been able to recognise those who have performed so well, have shared our stories of success and have developed up and coming talent in the past year,” Ledwaba said.
Hlophe congratulated the winners.
“ We continue to inspire the youth through the power for sport”, she said.
On the sidelines Steven Seakgwe of Mapepeza told this publication that his crew was grateful for the award and thanked the community of Ekurhuleni for the support.
“ Our wishes and hard work is starting to pay off. We have been pushing for the past 6 years.”
Sports Journalist of the Year recipient, Busisiwe Mokwena of Kaya FM told this reporter that she was on cloud nine.
“This has been an incredible year. There is still a lot to be done in women’s football. This award will push me to just work more harder.”
DID YOU KNOW?
This year’s finalists were shortlisted by a panel of independent adjudicators, represented by individuals from the media, academic and sporting fraternity. Futshane Consulting Pty (Ltd) has been appointed as the auditors to monitor this process.
The rest of the winners are:
Community Media of the Year
- Mapapeza Community Newspaper
Community Based Sport & Recreation of the Year
- Vuka Program
School Sport Athlete of the Year
- Fernando Booysen
Sports Journalist of the Year
- BusisiweMokwena
Most Promising Team of the Year
- Kathorus United
Most Promising Player of the Year
- MiyaMinentle
Administrator of the Year
- Lydia Mahlabela
Technical Official of the Year
- ThapeloMotloutse
Coach of the Year
- Thabiso Enoch Nkwe
Sport Team with a Disability
- Gauteng Disability Darts
Sportsman with a Disability
- OfentseMatisitse
Sportswoman with a Disability
- KgohthatsoMontjane
Sports Team of the Year
- Bizhub Lions
Sportswoman of the Year
- Schoenmaker
Sportsman of the Year
- Akani Simbine
MEC Special Awards
- RiaLedwaba
The following categories were determined through public voting:
SPORTS FAN OF THE YEAR
- Mamello Constance Makha
SPORTS PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR
- The Score Line
SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Car Winner: (for most sms votes cast)
- Mable Molefe from Randburg, a self-employed mother.
- INFO SUPPLIED
