In collaboration with the Eastern Cape Sport Confederation, the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture has been hosting the Sport and Recreation awards annually since 1996.
Now, for the first time in 25 years, the public also has the opportunity to participate by voting for their favourite Sport Star of the Year.
This announcement was made by the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture MEC Sibulele Ngongo while she officially announced this year’s nominees in a media briefing session at the Eastern Cape Academy of Sport in Gqeberha last week.
Explaining the selection process, Ngongo said a call for nominations was issued from the 19th of June to the 1st of July to all federations, school sport structures, recreation councils, and provincial sport confederations, culminating in three weeks of nominating the nominees.
“After the closure of the call for nominations, an adjudication committee consisting of the Eastern Cape Sport Confederation, members of the media, legal fraternity, sport experts with experience in sport for people with disabilities, the Eastern Cape Recreation Council, Departmental officials, and representatives from the sport structures was formed,” she said.
This year’s awards boast 165 nominations and 25 categories of individuals, federations, and teams who have excelled both on and off the field.
“It is with great humility that I have witnessed their sterling work, sheer determination, and passion in the field of play from the touchlines, the grandstands, and from our various sporting structures across the province.”
The shortlisted candidates for the Sport Star of the Year award are: IBF light-flyweight World champion Sivenathi “The Special One” Nontshinga, Powerlifting sensation Anika Maree who recently won gold and silver medals at the SA Equipped and Classic Powerlifting Champs, Para-athlete Jacob Smith who recently competed at the North-East German Championships in Germany, and the two-time 2023 ITTF African Para Championships bronze medalist Ntombomhlontlo Somtswayi.
Fans and followers can vote by sending an SMS to the number 49949 with the number of their favourite sport star.
Voting lines opened on the 18th of September and will remain open until the 9th of October.
The awards ceremony will take place on the 11th of October at the Boardwalk Hotel in Gqeberha.
