Gauteng’s very best in sport honoured in Mohlakeng
Coveted Sports Personality of the Year went to wheelchair tennis ace, Kgothatso Montjane who also claimed the night's top prize which includes a brand-new car.
The Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation with support from the Gauteng Sports Confederation hosted the 12th edition of the Gauteng Sports Awards at the Ace Ntsoelengoe Stadium in Mohlakeng on November 18.
The event was aimed at honouring excellence in the sporting fraternity for Gauteng-based athletes, teams, officials and media from the period of August 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023.
Gauteng MEC of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Morakane Mosupyoe spoke at the awards saying, “We celebrate athletes whose relentless pursuit of excellence has inspired us all. Their dedication to their craft is a testament to the power of commitment and perseverance.
“Through their feats, they’ve not only brought glory to themselves but also our province, uniting us in pride and joy. Let us also recognise the unwavering support of coaches, families, and communities who stand as pillars behind every athlete, offering encouragement and guidance through the highs and lows of their journey,” said Mosupyoe.
Meanwhile, winners were announced in 20 categories of the prestigious provincial awards.
The categories in question included the highly coveted Sports Personality of the Year which went to wheelchair tennis ace, Kgothatso Montjane who claimed the night’s top prize which included a brand-new car.
The award for Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability also went to Kgothatso who is the first black South African woman to ever play at the Wimbledon championships and the first black African to compete at all four grand slams in one calendar year.
There was also a new category of Sport Photographer of the Year category which went to Denga Netshituka.
The Lifetime Achievement was awarded to four recipients namely, Patrick ‘Ace’ Ntsoelengoe, Wiseman Dlamini, Aladani Stevens and Wilhemia Grobbelaar. They were recognised for their contributions to the Gauteng sports fraternity which left an impactful legacy
Meanwhile, the Coach of the Year and Technical Official of the Year categories had unprecedented all-female finalists and saw Ilse Roets Pelser (gymnastics) and Hayley Walker (figure skating) crowned as the respective winners for their successes which reached international levels.
Mpho Bowers (10) on the other hand is 2023’s youngest award recipient for the Amayanga Yanga Young Athlete of the Year.
He is the youngest player in the U12 National Tennis Team and won the Southern African Tennis Team Championships in Mozambique.
These are but some of the winners announced at the awards.
