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IOL News
4 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
New water polo franchise series ready to churn up water as driver for change in sport
The South Africa Water Polo Winter Series, a new national franchise tournament, is set to bring the country's top competitors to Nelson Mandela Bay from August 8 to 10. Image: Chris van Lennep / Depositphoto Water polo's new national franchise tournament is set to make a splash after borrowing from the concept of SA20 cricket's draft system, and could also tap into the pool of rugby talent in SA. The inaugural event of the new Winter Series, sponsored by leading automation manufacturer Jendamark, will see 112 of the country's elite senior players drafted into four men's and four women's squads that are set to churn up the water of the Newton Park Indoor Pool in Gqeberha from August 8 to 10. Treading water The franchise system is designed to help level the playing field and offer an alternative to the regional dominance of Western Province and Gauteng teams in inter-provincial competition. It also marks the first national tournament run under the auspices of the newly formed South Africa Water Polo (SAWP), which has successfully challenged Swimming South Africa in court for the rights to promote the interests of this growing sport. Tournament director Siegfried Lokotsch, who also the title sponsor's director of operations, said adding a new franchise event to the national calendar would reinvigorate senior competition and extend the season beyond the traditional autumn finish. 'This franchise format creates a fresh dynamic that's both exciting to watch and allows players to compete strength for strength. Our sport is not going to get stronger if only the top provinces are getting stronger,' he said. Swimming coach Tyra Roozendaal puts participants in the Learn to Polo development programme, which is part of SAWP's plan to grow the sport, through their paces. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Leg up With the game gaining traction at top schools countrywide, Lokotsch said it was important to reignite competitive senior water polo, while also promoting grassroots development. Lokotsch said year-round development would be at the heart of SAWP's efforts, with the Nelson Mandela Bay region creating the blueprint of what this could look like. With the help of volunteers like Claudia Charles, a former water polo player whose eldest daughter, Jenna, now represents Eastern Province, the Learn to Polo development programme is introducing children in the northern areas and township schools to swimming and, ultimately, water polo. 'I'm so grateful to them for seeing the need to develop. Water polo has a rich history in the northern areas, and the Gelvandale pool played a big role in getting kids into the sport when I was at school. But with lack of infrastructure and systems support, it fell away,' said Charles. 'The idea is to identify and nurture emerging talent throughout the programme, and possibly get them into water polo-playing schools,' explained Lokotsch. Crossover opportunities 'There is so much rugby talent coming from under-resourced schools, and this is where we are missing a trick. I believe rugby players make the best water polo players, and vice versa. Some of our Springbok stars, like Malcolm Marx, were also great at polo. 'So, there's a real opportunity to unlock that untapped potential. We're best in the world at rugby, we could also be best in the world in the water.' Chapman High School teacher Shari Kemp said the Gelvandale-based school was happy to have been included in the after-school programme. 'It means a lot to the learners. They don't always have the opportunities or the resources. So, for them to be involved in such an amazing programme, with people who know so much about the sport, is a great learning opportunity. They're a bit nervous but excited to learn.' If successful, the new Winter Series format will be expanded to Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban next year.
The South African
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Will Swimming SA's crushing court loss spark change across SA sport?
This was because of the humiliating loss the ruling body of SA aquatic sport took in the Western Cape High Court, where a judge ruled that the breakaway South African Water Polo (SAWP) organisation has the legal right to exist. SSA's bid to interdict the upstarts was a massive embarrassment in keeping with the general state of dysfunction that abounds. According to Clinton van der Berg, writing on his 'Got Game' website, the court found SSA does not have an exclusive, perpetual right to govern water polo in South Africa. It also upheld SA Water Polo's constitutional right to freedom of association. SAWP was formed by disillusioned coaches, players, and officials aiming to improve the sport's governance and performance. They had simply had enough. While SSA remains the officially recognised federation, the ruling opens the door for SAWP to potentially become the national governing body in the future. This is the same SSA which last month failed to acknowledge the death of Joan Harrison, South Africa's first Olympic swimming champion. This is the same SSA which failed to mention Tatjana Schoenmaker on its social platforms when she was winning gold at the Olympic Games. This is the same SSA which revels in controversy. In recent years there have been governance and leadership challenges with the federation's executive, including president Alan Fritz, serving beyond the constitutional three-term limit, raising legal and ethical questions. Additionally, elite artistic swimmers Jessica Hayes-Hill and Laura Strugnell successfully challenged SSA's disciplinary actions after being controversially sent home from the 2024 World Championships, leading to a R7.2 million lawsuit. 'Deceitful actioning of training protocol without management approval,' was cited by SSA, a vague charge that has raised eyebrows. SSA also admitted to an unconstitutional clause in its constitution forbidding members from suing the federation, promising amendments. Allegations of poor leadership, inadequate communication, and insufficient support for non-swimming aquatic sports persist, fuelling calls for urgent reform and greater transparency. The court ruling sets an important precedent: dissatisfaction with poor governance can lead to the rise of alternative structures, challenging entrenched federations. Given South Africa's widespread sports administration crises, including financial mismanagement and weak accountability, this could inspire similar breakaways, underscoring the urgent need for reform to restore trust and stability. The ruling is a wake-up call. Will the powers that be answer it? And will other sports pay heed? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Herald
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
Swimming SA loses court case against water polo body
'Accordingly, it has no right to prevent the respondents from taking steps to legally acquire that right in due course (including by establishing its legitimacy in the wider stakeholder community by creating the appropriate organisational structures in the interim).' The judge added that there was no proof to back up SSA's claim that SAWP was interfering in the running of the sport. 'The evidence to which I have already referred demonstrates that from the outset the respondents have expressed the clear intention to engage with the applicant. 'Furthermore, the respondents set out a number of factual examples of prior attempts by various stakeholders and role players in water polo to engage with the applicant, all apparently to no avail. 'But in any event, the applicant has a suitable alternative remedy. All it has to do is inform the South African water polo community at large that, for so long as it remains the national federation ... national and international competitions fall under its auspices.'
Daily Maverick
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
SA Water Polo has the right to exist, judge rules in a blow to Swimming SA's interdict bid
South African Water Polo could very well become the governing body of the sport after a vital court ruling. The breakaway South African Water Polo (SAWP) organisation has won the legal right to exist and could even evolve into the sport's national federation, according to a judgment handed down by the Western Cape Division of the High Court against Swimming South Africa (SSA). In a strong ruling after an urgent application brought by SSA for a final interdict against SAWP, Judge Judith Cloete found that SSA 'does not have an exclusive right in perpetuity to govern or administer the sport of water polo in South Africa'. It's a huge blow for SSA, whose years of well-documented poor governance could be coming to an end – in water polo at least. The court ruling will also come with a heavy bill, estimated to be around R1-million after SSA was ordered to pay costs. SSA, as the currently recognised national federation for aquatic disciplines including water polo, by both the National Sport and Recreation Act (NSRA) and World Aquatics, sought to prevent SAWP from attempting to administer or govern water polo in South Africa and from interfering in SSA's affairs. Judge Cloete found this to be against both the framework established in (or by) the NSRA and against South Africa's Constitution. 'The definition of 'national federation' in the NSRA makes no mention of only one national governing body being permitted to qualify as such in South Africa,' Judge Cloete said in her judgment. 'Although the definition refers to 'a national governing body' it does not necessarily follow that there can be only one such body for all aquatic disciplines in this country. 'The applicant (SSA) cannot seriously suggest that the respondents (SAWP) do not have the constitutionally entrenched right to freedom of association contained in section 18 of the Bill of Rights, and that the same applies to any individual water polo player wishing to join the respondents. 'The Constitutional Court has made clear that freedom of association is a fundamental right which protects against coercion, enables individuals to organise around particular areas of concern, and to hold both public and private bodies to account. 'The right has dual content in that it allows for a person to freely associate (the positive element) as well as to decide not to associate at all (the negative element). 'In addition, section 16 of the Bill of Rights entrenches the right to freedom of expression subject to certain exclusions, none of which are applicable in the present matter.' SAWP's mandate SAWP was established on simple principles to grow and improve the sport of water polo in the country. SSA applied to the court for an urgent interdict against SAWP to prevent it from 'interfering' in its mandate to govern and administer water polo in SA. SAWP was formed in early 2025, after many senior coaches, referees, administrators and players, including Olympians and world champions from around South Africa, lost faith in SSA to represent the interests of the sport. They decided to join under the banner of a new body, which would be built on the principles of transparency and sporting excellence. SSA argued this was illegal on several grounds and initially sought broad interdictory relief, including preventing SAWP from 'passing off' as having the authority to govern water polo. That line of argument was abandoned owing to lack of evidence. The remaining accusations forming the basis for the interdict were that SAWP was: Purporting to carry out the administration or governance of water polo in South Africa. SSA argued that SAWP's name ('South African Water Polo NPC') implied it was the responsible entity and that an open letter from SAWP outlined steps relating to administration and governance, which SSA claimed fell solely under its authority since 1992; Interfering with the affairs of SSA, specifically by directing or encouraging persons or entities to boycott or avoid participating in events held under SSA's auspices; Dissuading or discouraging people from participating in local or international water polo events organised by SSA; Interfering with SSA's communications to its water polo membership (by encouraging members to ignore communications or fail to pass them on); and Securing sponsorships or raising funds ostensibly to fund the administration of water polo and teams organised by SAWP to represent South Africa abroad. In its responding papers, SAWP argued that the SSA 'has no right to suppress criticism and stand in the way of SAWP (and its members) from acting lawfully, in the interests of its members, and with the utmost good faith'. SAWP argued that 'in response to Swimming South Africa's systematic and well-documented failures over the last three decades, SA Water Polo seeks, in the short term, to organise and unite clubs, players, coaches and referees, and to develop high-performance programmes for its members; and in the longer-term, to apply for membership with World Aquatics in order to ensure that SA Water Polo teams can compete at the highest international level'. 'Misconceived right' SSA's accusations were dismissed by Judge Cloete as she sided with SAWP in that it has the legal right to exist. 'The applicant's case is that it has a clear statutory right worthy of protection because in South Africa there are currently no separate bodies governing various disciplines of aquatic sports,' the judge noted. 'In its words, the South African regulation of sports exists within an international framework and not within a vacuum. 'To my mind the applicant has misconceived the nature of its right. It is correct that at present it is the only national federation for aquatic disciplines recognised by World Aquatics. 'However, SAWP is not purporting to hold itself out as a national federation. That is the only right which the applicant has which is worthy of protection. 'I agree with the respondents that the applicant does not have an exclusive right in perpetuity to govern or administer the sport of water polo in South Africa. 'Accordingly, it has no right to prevent the respondents from taking steps to legally acquire that right in due course (including by establishing its legitimacy in the wider stakeholder community by creating the appropriate organisational structures in the interim). 'This may ultimately result in the applicant having the authority to govern or administer water polo in South Africa in future, but this is nothing more than an incidence of our constitutionally entrenched democracy. 'It does not confer with it a legal right of the applicant worthy of interdictory protection.' Following the judgment, SAWP interim CEO Robbie Taylor said: 'This win is important validation of the local water polo community's mission to restore purpose and world-class excellence to the sport we love so much. 'For the first time in a long time, the polo community is truly excited about the future again. We're ready to put South Africa back on the map as a water polo-playing country with teams that are well prepared and are given every possible opportunity to succeed. 'Our first major event will be a highly competitive and exciting Winter League to be held in August 2025 in Nelson Mandela Bay.' SSA claims a victory of sorts? In an emailed response to Daily Maverick requesting reaction to the outcome, SSA sent a statement, which was not attributed to any leadership figure at SSA. 'Swimming South Africa (SSA) acknowledges the judgment handed down on 18 June 2025 by Judge Cloete in the matter concerning the governance of aquatic sports in South Africa,' the statement read. 'As the officially recognised national federation responsible for swimming, water polo, artistic swimming, diving and open water swimming, SSA is currently reviewing the full implications of the ruling in consultation with our legal team. The federation will determine its next steps after due deliberation at board level. 'The judgment affirms the constitutional right to freedom of association, a principle embedded in the Bill of Rights. At the same time, the court unequivocally confirmed that Swimming South Africa remains the authoritative governing body for aquatic sports in the country. 'Importantly, the ruling recognises that Water Polo South Africa (WPSA) [sic], a private entity, does not seek nor hold any formal recognition from the South African government, Sascoc, or the international governing body, World Aquatics. 'While we respect the outcome of the judicial process, we are disappointed that our application to interdict activities which we believe compromise the structure, order, and integrity of the sport was not granted. Nonetheless, SSA remains steadfast in our mandate to regulate and grow aquatics responsibly and inclusively. 'To be absolutely clear: Water Polo South Africa [sic] is not affiliated to Swimming South Africa, nor is it authorised to organise competitions under our name. Claims that it may issue provincial or national colours, or facilitate international representation, are both misleading and unfounded. 'This responsibility lies exclusively with Swimming South Africa and is governed by our constitution and operational protocols, which do not provide for dual membership at any level of the sport.' Interestingly, SSA's post-judgment statement infers that SAWP (whom they misname as WPSA despite clear wording in the judgment, finding affidavits and other correspondence, adding to the general sense of incompetence) are passing themselves off as the governing body. It's an accusation that SSA themselves withdrew and that Judge Cloete found baseless. DM
Daily Maverick
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Talent pool — water polo's grassroots revival kicks off in Nelson Mandela Bay
Organisers hope the new tournament will become the SA20 of water polo as it seeks to rebuild the sport from the bottom up. On a winter's day this week in Nelson Mandela Bay, a group of kids from across the metro – some of whom only recently learnt to swim – clamber into the Newton Park Indoor Pool. They're here for water polo, a sport long associated with elite schools but now being reimagined for everyone. From August 8 to 11 the very same pool will host some of the country's top water polo players in what organisers hope will become the SA20 of water polo – a fast-paced, high-energy tournament designed not just to thrill spectators, but to rebuild the sport from the bottom up. 'We want to put another event in the calendar which gives people more competitive water polo,' says Duncan Woods, a former national water polo player and one of South Africa Water Polo's (SAWP) founding committee members. At the heart of it is the SAWP Winter Series, powered by Jendamark – the first official tournament launched under the newly formed SAWP banner – a breakaway body that's challenging Swimming South Africa's long-standing grip on aquatic sports in the country. The formation of SAWP – and this inaugural Winter Series – marks the beginning of a new chapter for the sport, and potentially a new economic and sporting opportunity for Nelson Mandela Bay. The new tournament – with four men's and four women's teams – introduces a national draft system designed to level the playing field. These teams won't be regionally bound, but blended – deliberately so. The teams were selected through a position-by-position draft aimed at ensuring equal strength across the board. For each position – such as goalkeeper – players were ranked according to their highest level of representation, and then distributed evenly among the teams. 'You only get one chance to have your first one, and if we make a splash here and we really ignite something, I really think we are going to see… the start of potentially some serious growth,' says Siegfried Lokotsch, chairperson of Nelson Mandela Bay Water Polo and director of the Winter Series. But this tournament isn't only about national players and coaching strategy. It's also about building from the ground up – in schools and communities where water polo has never been an option. One of the most compelling aspects of the Winter Series is what's happening off the scoreboard: the series is tied to a broader, year-round development programme called Learn to Polo, which introduces kids from Northern Areas and township schools to swimming and water polo. With support from local schools and driven by passionate volunteers like Claudia Charles, the initiative includes swim training, transport support and monthly outings to the Eco Pool in Seaview. The programme has already begun – bringing in kids from under-resourced communities and teaching them how to swim, then how to play. The programme starts with swimming. From there, they are taught the basics of water polo. Nolan Kemp, a regional committee member involved with development, echoes the sentiment, saying they want water polo 'to be available to everyone'. 'I spend a lot of time presenting at schools in the northern areas, so the kids know the opportunity is there for them,' he said. The hope is that, in a few years, the next generation of South African water polo players won't just be coming from elite schools but from a broader, more diverse talent pool. 'For me, it's not just about the performance. I want everybody to be able to have access to it and be able to play. If I can get one player out of it, then we've done our jobs,' Lokotsch says. A coaching development component has also been added to the tournament. Lokotsch says the idea is to run the Winter Series in a way that showcases elite play while still making space for younger players and aspirant coaches to be part of the experience. 'Every franchise will have shadow coaches, and every kid playing at the development clinic will be exposed to seeing the top players in the country,' he says. SAWP has also partnered with the Elevate programme to offer free online coaching accreditation to aspiring coaches in the region – nearly 90 people, from school leavers to parents, have already signed up. The scale of the event will be unprecedented for Nelson Mandela Bay water polo. With 160 players and 16 coaches involved – plus referees, administrators and fans – the numbers quickly add up. 'If each person has one person coming to support them, or two people, you've now got 600 people coming,' Lokotsch says. 'I've been in the game a long time, and there's never been so much to be optimistic about as right now,' Woods adds. DM
