National netball tourney to hit the courts at EG Jansen soon

Some 2 200 players along with 196 umpires and technical officials will converge on Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen, Boksburg, from December 1 to 6 for the week-long annual SPAR National Netball Championships.

This year’s tournament marks the largest entry in the history of the championships, with 119 districts vying for top honours in both the senior and U21 divisions. Johannesburg will be defending their titles in both categories.

The U21 Championships will be played alongside the senior tournament, and spectators can look forward to seeing several SPAR Baby Proteas, fresh from a strong showing at the Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar, representing their respective districts.

While the Baby Proteas will feature prominently, the SPAR Proteas senior players will miss this year’s event as they head into camp to prepare for the African Netball Cup in Malawi in early December.

School ready to host
Dr EG Jansen High School, one of Gauteng’s premier netball facilities, boasts nine floodlit all-weather courts with an additional six courts available at neighbouring Laerskool Concordia.

The school’s head of marketing, Chrizanne Pretorius, said preparations are well underway.

“We’re already getting everything in place to ensure that the tournament runs smoothly. A lot of big events are held here, so we always make sure our facilities are well maintained and in excellent condition,” Pretorius said.

She added that extra security will be deployed throughout the tournament.

A platform for talent and growth
Newly elected Netball South Africa (NSA) president Mami Diale emphasised the importance of the championships as a breeding ground for future stars.

“The SPAR National Champs is a crucial space for identifying talent. I’m grateful to our partner SPAR who continue to invest in our vision and in the growth of netball across the country. Over the years this tournament has produced many of our national players, and we expect that trend to continue,” Diale said.

Ekurhuleni Netball Association’s Motlalepule Mmatli said hosting the tournament is a proud milestone for the district.

“This championship reflects the growth of netball in Ekurhuleni. Hosting an event of this scale allows us to showcase our passion and talent while inspiring even more teams to join our growing netball legacy,” Mmatli said.

Celebrating inclusion and social impact
In celebration of World Disability Day on December 3, the championships will also feature a Deaf Netball Tournament from December 1 to 5.

Both SPAR and NSA remain committed to driving social change through sport, continuing their campaigns to #EndGBVF (gender-based violence and femicide) and #EndPeriodPoverty.

Mpudi Maubane, SPAR’s national PR, communications and sponsorships manager, said the championships provide a vital platform to promote these causes.

“This is South Africa’s largest interprovincial sporting event, and it’s an ideal space to raise awareness. But awareness alone isn’t enough. Our partnerships with NSA, the NPA and LifeLine help ensure that support reaches where it’s most needed,” Maubane said.

SPAR allocates over R7m annually to direct support for GBV victims through its collaboration with the Thuthuzela Care Centres and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), ensuring access to justice and care for survivors.

The retailer has also joined forces with NSA to tackle period poverty, aiming to eliminate it by 2030. Their sanitary pad drive has already helped thousands of schoolgirls stay in class and on the court.

Event details
Tickets for the SPAR National Championships will be sold at the venue for R10 per person, with secure parking available at R20 per vehicle from Monday to Thursday and R30 on Friday and Saturday.

Selected matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport, with full broadcast details to be announced soon.

The stage is set for an unforgettable week of netball as the country’s top districts battle it out in the biggest SPAR National Championships to date, closing 2025 with a powerful celebration of sport, community and social impact.

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