The 13th edition of the annual Gauteng Sport Awards took place on 24 November 2024, where rising football sensation Relebohile Mofokeng was awarded Sport Personality of the Year.
Relebohile is a product of the School of Excellence, where he was scouted by Orlando Pirates. Having set the PSL football season alight, Relebohile won the Nedbank Cup and MTN Cup with the Orlando Pirates and was recognized as DSTV Young Player of the Season.
20 year old Mofokeng from Sharpeville, won in the category which was voted for by the public through sms, beating out finalists Akani Simbine, Dricus Du Plessis, Ronwen Williams and Tatjana Smith.
Olympic swimmer Tatjana Smith was another big winner at the Gauteng Sport Awards, taking home over R 350 000 in prize money and being crowned Sportwoman of the Year. She competed in the 100m breaststroke and the 200m breaststroke at the Paris Olympics winning a gold medal in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:05.00 and silver medal in the 200m breaststroke with a time of 2:19.01.
This year’s Lifetime Achiever recipient, as selected by Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Matome Chiloane, was Peter Manero Ngobeni. He was once the fastest sprinter in South Africa, winning multiple SA championships sprint titles and was the first black sprinter to be awarded Springbok Colours in1985.
Each of the 59 finalists will pocket R15 000, whilst winners will receive an additional R25 000 in prize money. The winners will automatically be entered into the national South African Sport Awards happening later this year.
The awards were held under the theme ‘Celebrating Excellence, Inspiring the Youth. They are aimed at recognizing and honouring Gauteng-based athletes for their brilliance on the field and for living up to Gauteng being the ‘Home of Champions’.
Meanwhile, a total of 9 Gauteng based athletes who represented South Africa at the 2024 Olympics received special cash incentives for winning medals (at the Olympics). They include TatjanaSmith, Bayanda Walaza, Akani Simbini, Shaun Maswanganyi, Bradley Nkoana, Simoné Kruger, Pieter Du Preez, Donald Ramaphadi and Lucas Sithole. The incentives were awarded curtesy of the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.
2024 Gauteng Sport Awards Winners:
SPORT PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
Name
Sporting Code
Relebohile Mofokeng
Football
SPORTMAN OF THE YEAR
Name
Sporting Code
Bayanda Walaza
Athletics
SPORTWOMAN OF THE YEAR
Name
Sporting Code
Tatjana Smith
Swimming
MOST PROMISING SPORT TEAM OF THE YEAR
Name
Sporting Code
Clapham High School U/15 Football
Football
SPORTWOMAN OF THE YEAR WITH A DISABILITY
Name
Sporting Code
Simoné Kruger
Para-Athletics
SPORTMAN OF THE YEAR WITH A DISABILITY
Name
Sporting Code
Arno Graaff
Para-Athletics
SPORT TEAM OF THE YEAR WITH A DISABILITY
Name
Sporting Code
Central Gauteng Lions Blind Cricket Team
Blind Cricket
COACH OF THE YEAR
Name
Sporting Code
Rocco Meiring
Swimming
TECHNICAL OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR
Name
Sporting Code
Mpho Makhoba
Tennis
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR
Name
Sporting Code
Sammy Kekane
Hockey
MOST PROMISING ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Name
Sporting Code
Paris-Gail Isaacs
Hockey
SPORT PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Name
Pitsi Vincent Matlou
SPORT JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Name
Media House
AMAYANGA YANGA ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Name
Sporting Code
Monalepelo Mojapelo
Gymnastics
COMMUNITY SPORT AND RECREATION PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR
Name
Sporting Code
MAC Masina Foundation
Rugby
FEDERATION OF THE YEAR
Name
Sporting Code
Athletics Gauteng North
Athletics
COMMUNITY SPORTS MEDIA OF THE YEAR
Name
Jozi FM
SPORT TEAM OF THE YEAR
Name
Sporting Code
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Football Team
Football
LIFETIME ACHEIVER
Name
Peter Manero Ngobeni
MEC SPECIAL AWARDS
Name
Tatjana Smith
Bayanda Walaza
Akani Simbini
Shaun Maswanganyi
Bradley Nkoana
Simone Kruger
Pieter Du Preez
Donald Ramaphadi
Lucas Sithole