The medals came thick and fast for Team SA at the African Games on Monday with a rich haul of 21 on the day taking them to a team total of 49 medals, placing SA fourth overall, and third when counted by total medal count in Accra, Ghana, on Monday, 11 March, 2024,
Egypt top the continental medals leaderboard with 47 gold medals in a total of 84 medals, placing them as overall tournament favourites far beyond the chasing pack lead by a resurgent Nigeria (16 gold in 41 medals), Algeria (15 gold in 55 medal) and South Africa (12 gold in 49 medals).
South Africa’s women have excelled in Accra, contributing eight of Team SA’s 12 gold medals to date, and have shared two more with their mens counterparts in mixed events for a total of 10, and have secured 10 of SA’s 15 silver medals.
In weightlifting Anneke Spies picked up three silver medals on Monday, in the 59kg women’s catgory, in the 59kg Snatch, and also in the 59kg Clean & Jerk final.
In the swimming pool, South African swimmers contributed another three gold medals, and 13 in total, to Team SA’s collection at the African Games.
Catherine van Rensburg kicked things off with gold in the 400m freestyle, claiming victory in 4 minutes 17.92 seconds with Hannah Mouton taking bronze in 4:22.89.
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There was more gold to come for Team South Africa with Caitlin de Lange doing the honours in the 50m backstroke, finishing in an African Games record time of 28.76 seconds to edge out teammate and SA record holder Tayla Jonker who took the silver in 29.00. De Lange’s time beat the Games record set by Zimbabwean icon Kirsty Coventry in 2007.
“I think the team as a whole – we’re keeping each other motivated and the vibe is just so nice,” said De Langer afterwards. “The support is amazing and it makes me just want to push even harder.”
The women’s 4x200m freestyle relay team of Mouton, Leigh McMorran, Kate Meyer and Van Rensburg added the fourth gold of the night for the South Africans, finishing in 8:27.31, almost a full eight seconds clear of the chasing Egyptian team.
South Africa women are firm favourites to pick up another gold on Wednesday when the SA Emerging team will take on Zimbabwe in the final of the inaugural women’s T20 cricket Tournament at the 13th African Games on Wednesday afternoon.
Zimbabwe qualified when they dispatched Nigeria in their semi-final, while Team SA reached an impressive 122 for 4 in their 20 overs after they were sent in to bat by Uganda. Skipper Nondumiso Shangase hit 38 runs off 42 balls. When it came to their turn with the ball, all of Kayla Reyneke (3-13), Jane Winster (2-12) and Shangase (2-15) were amongst the wickets.
Co-captain Leah Jones speaking after the game: “I think it was a good game, all in all. The pattern didn’t go so well in the beginning, but we ended well and we obviously took that momentum into the bowling. The bowling was exceptional, so yeah, kudos to the bowlers and our fielders, it was really excellent.
“I think our bowling and our fielding was just top notch. Batting was better towards the end, but I think our bowling carried us through this game once again.”
Women’s Results for Team SA at the African Games in Accra, Ghana, on Monday 11 Match, 2024
Cricket
Women’s Semi-Final
Team SA beat Uganda by 50 runs
Team SA 122-4 after 20 overs (Nondumiso Shangase 38, Miane Smit 20)
Uganda 72 in 18.4 overs (Kayla Reyneke 3-13, Jane Winster 2-12, Nondumiso Shangase 2-15)
Swimming
Heats: Women’s 50m backstroke
Caitlin de Lange finished 2nd in her heat in 29.75 which qualified her 4th fastest for the final
Tayla Jonker won her heat in 29.38 which qualified her fastest for the final
Final: Women’s 50m backstroke
GOLD! Caitlin de Lange produced the second Games record when she won gold in 28.76
SILVER! Tayla Jonker chased her teammate home and claimed silver in 29.00
Final: Women’s 100m butterfly
Hannah Mouton placed 7th in the final in 1:05.55
Final: Women’s 400m freestyle
GOLD! Catherine van Rensburg won the gold medal in a time of 4:17.92
BRONZE! Hannah Mouton took the bronze medal in 4;22.89
Final: Women’s 200m breaststroke
SILVER! Kate Meyer missed out on gold by 0.02sec when touched off by Algeria’s Raina Nefsi. Meyer clocked 2:23.35
BRONZE! Georgie Els claimed the bronze in 2:37.17
Final: Women’s 4x200m Freestyle
GOLD! Team SA’s Hannah Mouton, Leigh McMorran, Kate Meyer and Catherine van Rensburg claimed the gold when they beat Egypt to win in 8:27.31
Weight Lifting
SILVER! Women’s 59kg: Anneke Spies
SILVER! Women’s 59kg Snatch: Anneke Spies
SILVER! Women’s 59kg Clean & Jerk: Anneke Spies
Chess
Women’s Blitz Invitational
Round 1: Jesse February drew with Marie Tchetche (Ivory Coast) 0.5 to 0.5
Round 2: Jesse February beat Valerevna Marchkina (Senegal) 1-0
Round 3: Jesse February beat Vania Vilhete (Mozambique) 1-0
Round 4: Jesse February drew with Junior Ednasia (Angola) 0.5 to 0.5
Round 5: Jesse February lost to Wafa Shahenda (Egypt) 1-0
Round 6: Jesse February lost to Natalia Banda (Botswana) 1-0
Round 7: Jesse February beat Mahasambatra Tsinjoviniavo (Madagascar) 1-0
Round 8: Jesse February lost to Samson Pace (Nigeria) 1-0
Mixed Team Blitz
Round 1: Team SA beat Sao Tome and Principe 2-0
Round 2: Team SA lost to Egypt 2-0
Round 3: Team SA beat Equatorial Guinea 2-0
Round 4: Team SA drew with Uganda 1-1
Round 5: Team SA drew with Madagascar 1-1
Round 6: Team SA drew with Mozambique 1-1
Round 7: Team SA drew with Zambia 1-1
Round 8: Team SA lost to Algeria 0.5 to 1.5
Round 9 – finals: Team SA beat Angola 1.5 to 0.5
Original Copy: Team SA and Karien Jonckheere, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Caitlin de Lange kicking off on her way to winning another Gold medal for Team South Africa, earning the Games’ second record when she touched to win the women’s 50 backstroke in 28.76 at the Borteyman Aquatic Centre in Accra in Ghana, on Monday, 11 March, 2024. Photo: Roger Sedres, Team South Africa
Photo 2 Caption: Triple-Silver medalist Anneke Spies (seated, lower left) with her medals and the proud SA Weightlifting team at the African Games in Accra, Ghana, on Monday, 11 March. Photo: Supplied
Photo 3 Caption: Caitlin de Lange (left) pictured with Tayla Jonker who made it a 1-2 on the women’s 50 backstroke podium for Team SA. Photo: Roger Sedres, Team South Africa
Photo 4 Caption: Team South Africa’s Hannah Mouton, Leigh McMorgan, Kate Meyer and Catherine van Rensburg won gold in the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay at the Borteyman Aquatic Centre at the 13th African Games hosted in Accra, Ghana, on Monday, 11 March 2024. Photo: Roger Sedres, Team South Africa
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