Johannesburg worked hard to earn a shot at notching up a hat-trick of consecutive titles when they face Mangaung in the final of the SPAR National Netball Championships hosted by the City of Johannesburg, after Semi-Finals results at Ellis Park Arena in the City of Johannesburg, on Friday, 6 December, 2024.
The hosts were pushed hard by Dr Kenneth Kaunda, who came close to pulling off a massive upset, leading the two-time defending champions by five goals after the first quarter of Friday’s semi-final, by one goal at half-time and still by one at the end of the third period.
But the home side held their nerve, taking the lead for the first time three minutes into the final quarter, and doing all the work in the last eight minutes of the match to walk away to a 41-34 win.
Once again, the Dr Kenneth Kaunda team proved to be their own worst enemies. While impressive on defence, they finished with a shooting percentage of just 62 per cent compared to Johannesburg’s 93 per cent, having created 55 scoring opportunities compared to the home side’s 44.


Johannesburg coach and former SPAR Proteas captain Dr Elsjé Jordaan admitted afterwards her nerves were shot after the nail-biting victory but said she remained quietly confident her side could pull off the win.
“Funnily enough, I never felt we weren’t in the game. I felt we made unnecessary and unforced errors and that was just due to our own decision-making that wasn’t on par,” she said.
“Then halfway through the second quarter, I could feel the momentum shifted.”
Johannesburg coach and former SPAR Proteas captain Dr Elsjé Jordaan
As for earning a place in the final, Jordaan added: “It’s a third final for us which is very special. It’s not something that just happens in a championship like this. It means a lot to us as a team so we’re excited. It’s always a privilege to play in a final and we’re looking forward to it.”
Johannesburg captain Didintle Keebine added that the “jitters” had set in at the start, but she was thrilled with how her side had pulled through.
“It was a very tough game. Our start has been a bit shaky but we really pulled through… We fought back, we did great and I’m really proud of my team.”
Johannesburg captain Didintle Keebine
Later in the day, Mangaung booked their spot in the final with a 50-45 victory over Cape Winelands in their semifinal, meaning the same two teams as last year will face off for the title. Once again, it proved to be a monumental battle, with the Cape side racing to a 5-1 lead at the start and continuing that momentum to lead 26-20 by half-time.

But, just like Johannesburg did in the earlier semifinal, Mangaung clawed their way back into the match with an impressive third quarter. They scored 16 goals to Winelands’ six to take the lead for the first time and held on for the four-goal victory.
Martha Mosoahle-Samm said her side had benefited from playing the second semifinal of the day.
“We looked at how Johannesburg struggled against Dr KK, and I was sitting there thinking this is what’s going to happen to us as well. I actually spoke to the girls and said: ‘This is how a semifinal looks. You’re going to have to dig deep, come back and fight hard.’”
Mangaung coach Martha Mosoahle-Samm
As for what the plan is to reverse the result of last year’s final where Mangaung finished as runners-up, the former SPAR Proteas captain reckoned: “We will be ready for the final tomorrow. I think we don’t want to lose it for the second time. Last year it was so close but yet so far… we are in this and we want it so badly.”
“We’re not going to repeat what happened last year when we were 7-1 behind. I think we should start with a bang and shake everyone with good netball and the tight final that everyone wants.”
Mangaung captain, Xandri Fourie
In the under-21 tournament, defending champions Tshwane defeated Dr Kenneth Kaunda 48-36 to book a place in Saturday’s final which will be a Jukskei derby against Johannesburg after the hosts defeated Cape Town 38-30 in their semifinal.
Tickets for the games will be available online at [email protected] as well as at the venue for R30. Safe and secure parking will be available at Ellis Park Swimming Pool for R10 per car.
Final Fixtures of the Senior and U21 Spar National Netball Championships, at Ellis Park Arena on Saturday, 7 December, 2024
U21 A Section Final
09h30: Johannesburg A vs Tshwane A
Senior A Section Final
11h00: Johannesburg A vs Mangaung A
Senior and U21 Semi-Final Results on Friday, 6 December, 2024
Senior A Section
Johannesburg A bt DR Kenneth Kaunda A 41-34
Mangaung bt Cape Winelands A 50-45
U21 A Section
Johannesburg A bt Cape Town A 38-30
Tshwane A bt Dr Kenneth Kaunda 48-26
Senior and U21 Results on Thursday, 5 December, 2024
Senior A
Dr Kenneth Kaunda A bt Ekurhuleni A 55-26
Johannesburg A bt Cape Winelands 56-43
SA U/21 bt Nelson Mandela Bay A 51-47
Mangaung A bt eThekwini A 63-31
Tshwane A bt Cape Town A 54-52
Johannesburg A bt Nelson Mandela Bay A 54-40
Mangaung A bt Dr Kenneth Kaunda A 41-44
Cape Winelands bt eThekwini A 56-35
Tshwane A bt Ekurhuleni A 56-45
Cape Town A bt SA U21 49-48
U21 A
Dr Kenneth Kaunda A bt Mangaung 46-34
Johannesburg A bt Cape Town A 50-25
Tshwane A bt Zululand 42-21
Senior and U21 Results on Wednesday, 4 December, 2024
Senior A
Tshwane A bt eThekwini 53-36
Nelson Mandela Bay A bt Ekurhuleni A 41-39
Johannesburg A bt SA U/21 53-46
Mangaung A bt Cape Town A 55-53
Cape Winelands bt Ekurhuleni A 56-19
Johannesburg A bt Dr Kenneth Kaunda A 43-36
Nelson Mandela Bay A bt eThekwini A 56-30
Mangaung A bt Tshwane A 58-47
Cape Town A drew Cape Winelands 49-49
SA U/21 bt Dr Kenneth Kaunda A 43-40
U21 A
Cape Town A bt Mangaung 50-37
Dr Kenneth Kaunda A drew Johannesburg A 40-40
Mangaung bt Johannesburg A 52-29
Tshwane A bt Dr Kenneth Kaunda A 51-40
A Section Results on Tuesday, 3 December, 2024
Nelson Mandela Bay 45 – 51 Cape Town
eThekwini 34 – 33 Ekurhuleni
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 41 – 39 Cape Winelands
Mangaung 50 – 47 Johannesburg
Tshwane 45 – 45 Nelson Mandela Bay
Cape Town 69 – 46 eThekwini
Tshwane 53 – 59 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Cape Winelands 53 – 37 SA U21
Johannesburg 63 – 32 Ekurhuleni
Mangaung 50 – 42 Nelson Mandela Bay
Cape Winelands 62 – 44 Tshwane
eThekwini 34 – 53 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Cape Town 42 – 58 Johannesburg
Ekurhuleni 33 – 61 SA U21
Mangaung 53-42 SA U21
A Section Results on Monday, 2 December, 2024
Cape Town 57 – 45 Ekurhuleni
Cape Winelands 56 – 24 Nelson Mandela Bay
Johannesburg 69 – 35 eThekwini
Tshwane 48 – 42 SA U21
Mangaung 63 -27 Ekurhuleni
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 51 – 30 Nelson Mandela Bay
eThekwini 44 – 53 SA U21
Johannesburg 63 – 42 Tshwane
Mangaung 46 – 51 Cape Winelands
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 47 – 51 Cape Town
Original Copy: Netball SA, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Lefébre Rademan of Mangaung and Syntiche Kabuya of Cape Winelands contest possession of the ball during semi-finals action at the 2024 Spar National Netball Championships at Ellis Park Netball in Johannesburg, on Friday, 6 December, 2024. All Photos: Reg Caldecott
Photo 2 Caption: A display of speed and skill between Johannesburg captain Didintle Keebine and Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s Tlotlang Mokomela was settled in favour of the hosts.
Photo 3 Caption: Lefébre Rademan and Cape Winelands’ Danelle van Nieuwenhuizen in action in the battle which was settled in favour of finalists Mangaung.
Photo 4 Caption: Nonsikelelo Mazibuko of Johannesburg and Martiné Jordaan of Dr Kenneth Kaunda in action during day 5, ahead of finals day on Saturday.