Rio Olympic gold medallist, Caster Semenya, has been crowned Athlete of the Year at the SPAR gsport Awards, as the class of 2016 winners were revealed at The Venue in Melrose Arch on Saturday night.
Semenya was also recognised by Minister of Sport, Fikile Mbalula, who presented her with a 2016 Minister’s Recognition of Excellence Award alongside notable women in sport including Banyana Banyana football ace, Amanda Dlamini, former netball international, Simnikiwe Mdaka, Comrades Marathon winner, Charne Bosman and Wayde van Niekerk’s gold medal-winning coach, Tannie Ans Botha.
World number two junior wheelchair tennis star, Nokwanda Hlongwane, was another big winner on the night, winning both Junior Athlete of the Year and the newly-introduced School Sports Star award.
The other new award, Team of the Year, was won by netball’s Free State Crinums, edging out national competition in the Momentum Proteas and the Springbok Women’s Sevens team.
Channel Africa’s Rachel Makhura became gsport’s first triple-Award winner – in one night – when she won Style Star of the Year and both Woman in Media – Social Media and – Radio awards, confirming her position as one of the leading women in sports media in SA.
Motshidisi Mohono from SuperSport won the Television category, while the Daily Sun’s Busisiwe Mokwena won the Woman in Media – Print award, the second time she’s won a gsport Woman in Media Award.
The prestigious gsport Hall of Fame award was presented to long-time sports activist and publisher, Cheryl Roberts, who joins distinguished women honoured since gsport’s launch ten years ago, in 2006.
Inaugural gsport Hall of Fame recipient and 1996 double Olympic gold medallist, Penny Heyns, was acknowledged once again by gsport for inspiring the growth of the initiative over the past 10 years, as she was presented with a gsport Special Recognition award.
Other gsport Special Recognition award recipients included the First Lady of Sport, Carol Tshabalala, Banyana Banyana captain, Janine van Wyk, Momentum Proteas star, Mignon du Preez and event brand specialists, Worldwide Sports.
SA’s leading wheelchair tennis star, KG Montjane, scooped the Athlete of the Year with Disability award for the second time in the Awards history.
In the Woman of the Year category, founder of the Faith and Hope Foundation, Faith Sibeko, took top honours, and disability sports volunteer, Zelda Hansen, won Volunteer of the Year.
Wheelchair Tennis SA continued to score big at the event, winning the Sports Federation of the Year award for shining the brightest spotlight on disabled sport.
The Sponsor of the Year award was won by National Lotteries Commission for its unmatched support of South African women’s sport.
Leading Orlando Pirates fan, Mama Joy Chauke, who won the inaugural Supporter of the Year award in 2015, bounced back with another emphatic win to take the popular award again.
The 2016 SPAR gsport Awards campaign is supported by Sport and Recreation SA and partnered by leading brands, SPAR, Big Five Duty Free, Estée Lauder, SABC Sport and Radio 2000. Special thanks to event specialists, M-Sports Marketing, technical suppliers, TSO Productions, auditors for the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards voting, SizweNtalubaGobodo, Style Alert SA for styling the 2016 Style Star finalists and LULUM for PR services.
For more information on the SPAR gsport Awards, follow @gsport4girls on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or check out gsport.co.za. The official event hashtag is #gsport11.
Full list of 2016 SPAR gsport Awards Winners:
Caster Semenya – Minister’s Recognition of Excellence Award
Amanda Dlamini – Minister’s Recognition of Excellence Award
Simnikiwe Mdaka – Minister’s Recognition of Excellence Award
Charne Bosman – Minister’s Recognition of Excellence Award
‘Tannie Ans’ Anna Botha – Minister’s Recognition of Excellence Award
Cheryl Roberts – Hall of Fame Award
Worldwide Sports – Special Recognition Award
Carol Tshabalala – Special Recognition Award
Janine van Wyk – Special Recognition Award
Mignon du Preez – Special Recognition Award
Penny Heyns – Special Recognition Award
Zelda Hansen – Volunteer of the Year
Wheelchair Tennis SA – Federation of the Year
National Lotteries Commission – Sponsor of the Year
Mama Joy Chauke – Supporter of the Year
Rachel Makhura – Style Star Award
Busisiwe Mokwena – Woman in Media Award – Print
Rachel Makhura – Woman in Media Award – Social Media
Rachel Makhura – Woman in Media Award – Radio
Motshidisi Mohono – Woman in Media Award – Television
Faith Sibeko – Woman of the Year
Anna Botha – Coach of the Year
Nokwanda Hlongwane – School Sports Star of the Year
Nokwanda Hlongwane – Junior Athlete of the Year
Kgothatso Montjane – Athlete of the Year with Disability
Free State Crinums – Team of the Year
Caster Semenya – SPAR Athlete of the Year
Photo 1 caption: 2016 gsport Volunteer of the Year Award winner Zelda Hansen (R) is welcomed to the stage by SASCOC’s Hajera Kajee, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 2 caption: 2016 gsport Volunteer of the Year Award winner Zelda Hansen smiles as she begins her acceptance speech, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 3 caption: 2010 gsport Hall of Fame inductee Motlatsi Keikabile (L) congratulates Wheelchair Tennis South Africa MD Karen Losch, on being it being named the 2016 gsport Federation of the Year, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 4 caption: Wheelchair Tennis South Africa MD Karen Losch talks about the work of Wheelchair Tennis South Africa, after it being named the 2016 gsport Federation of the Year, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 5 caption: gsport Trustee and inaugural Hall of Famer, Penny Heyns (L), welcomes the National Lotteries Commission’s Senior Stakeholder Relations Officer, Tebogo Selebogo, to receive the 2016 gsport Sponsor of the Year Award, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 6 caption: The National Lotteries Commission’s Senior Stakeholder Relations Officer, Tebogo Selebogo, pictured after making her acceptance speech on behalf of the Commission at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 7 caption: gsport Founder Kass Naidoo (L) hands South Africa’s biggest support of sport her 2016 gsport Supporter of the Year Award, after Mama Joy Chauke won the annual honour once again at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 8 caption: Awards MC Anele Mdoda comforts Mama Joy during an emotional acceptance speech after she won the 2016 gsport Supporter of the Year Award at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 9 caption: Fashion brand Style Alert SA boss Thuli Mola (L) congratulates gsport’s pick of the evening’s Best-Dressed Spot Prize winner, Lesego Chaane at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 10 caption: Worldwide Sports Operations Manager Linah Sithole (R) poses for photos with gsport’s first athlete Style Star, Mapaseka Makhanya, after the sports marketing consultancy won a 2016 gsport Special Recognition Award for its long service in support of the annual gsport Awards, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 11 caption: Worldwide Sports Operations Manager Linah Sithole talks about the sports marketing consultancy’s work, and its support of the annual gsport Awards, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 12 caption: 2009 gsport Athlete of the Year None Tenge (L) congratulates Becky Motumo, receiving the 2016 gsport Special Recognition Award for Carol Tshabalala, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 13 caption: gsport Trustee and 2008 Hall of Famer Elana Meyer (L) congratulates Mignon du Preez on her 2016 gsport Special Recognition Award, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 14 caption: Honoured for her captaincy during a time of great development for the Momentum Proteas, Mignon du Preez acknowledges her 2016 gsport Special Recognition Award at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 15 caption: Communications Minister Faith Muthambi (L) looks on as SA women’s football captain, Banyana Banyana skipper Janine van Wyk, strides to the lecture to deliver her acceptance speech after receiving her 2016 gsport Special Recognition Award at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 16 caption: Banyana Banyana skipper Janine van Wyk stands tall next to the flag she has defended on so many proud moments, receiving her 2016 gsport Special Recognition Award at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 17 caption: Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba (L) congratulates gsport Trustee Penny Heyns on her 2016 gsport Special Recognition Award, awarded for the swim legend’s steadfast support of the gsport Awards over its first decade in support of women in sport, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 18 caption: Inaugural gsport Hall of Fame recipient Penny Heyns was quick to honour Dr Sam Ramsamy as the mad who had always stood by her during her swimming career, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 19 caption: gsport Founder Kass Naidoo (L) embraces Rachel Makhura, the first media professional to win the annual Style Style star, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 20 caption: Channel Africa on-air personality Rachel Makhura takes in the moment after being named the 2016 gsport Style Style star at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 21 caption: Rachel Makhura WiM Radio 2000 station manager Puleng Thulo (L) joins Awards Judge Pietie Coetzee in congratulating Channel Africa’s Rachel Makhura (R) on winning the Woman in Media – Radio Award at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 22 caption: London 2012 Olympic Games medalist Bridgitte Hartley (C) presents Rachel Makhura with her third trophy of the evening, when the popular sports presenter also walked away with the Woman in Media – Social Media Award, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 23 caption: Rachel Makhura makes her way to the podium clutching her third winners’ bag, this time for claiming the Woman in Media – Social Media Award at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 24 caption: SABC Sport station manager Sully Motsweni (L) congratulates Supersport presenter Motshidisi Mohono on winning the Woman in Media – Television Award at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 25 caption: Popular for her work on mens rugby and netball, Supersport presenter Motshidisi Mohono strides to the podium to deliver her acceptance speech after winning the Woman in Media – Television Award at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 26 caption: 2016 gsport Hall of Famer Cheryl Roberts (L) congratulates Busisiwe Mokwena on winning her second Woman in Media – Print award, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 27 caption: Busisiwe Mokwena speaks with conviction about her support of SA women in sport as a journalist, after winning the Woman in Media – Print award at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 28 caption: Big Five Duty Free Marketing Manager Helena Melis congratulates Faith Sibeko on being named as the 2016 gsport Woman of the Year, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 29 caption: Founder of the Faith & Hope Foundation which champions the 2015/2016 Garankuwa Local football association, Faith Sibeko relishes the moment of being recognised herself after winning the Woman of the Year award at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 30 caption: Director General for the Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa, Alec Moemi (L) welcomes Odessa Swart receiving the 2016 gsport Coach of the Year Award on behalf of Anna Botha, coach her of SA’s Rio Olympic Games 400m champion, Wayde van Niekerk, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 31 caption: Odessa Swart, mom to Rio Olympic Games 400m champion, Wayde van Niekerk, after acknowledging the 2016 gsport Coach of the Year Award on behalf of Anna Botha, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 32 caption: 2007 gsport Hall of Fame inductee Hazel Gumede welcomes sport activist Cheryl Roberts as the 2016 gsport Hall of Fame inductee, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 33 caption: 2016 gsport Hall of Fame inductee Cheryl Roberts was quick to assert her determination to continue driving development in sport – and that giving her an Award wouldn’t tone her down, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 34 caption: Sports and Recreation South Africa Minister Fikile Mbalula proudly announces the five recipients of the 2016 Ministers Excellence Awards, Caster Semenya, Tannie Ans Botha (received by Odessa Swart), Charne Bosman, Simnikiwe Mdaka (received by Burta de Kock) and Amanda Dlamini (Janine van Wyk), at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 35 caption: gsport Judge and former SPAR Proteas netball star Zanele Mdodana bows down to congratulate the 2016 gsport School Sports Star of the Year recipient, Wheelchair Tennis star Nokwanda Hlongwane, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 36 caption: 2016 gsport School Sports Star of the Year recipient, Wheelchair Tennis star Nokwanda Hlongwane, makes her mark at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 37 caption: 2016 Junior Athlete of the Year recipient, world Wheelchair Tennis no. 2 Nokwanda Hlongwane, is congratulated for her achievement by world 800m champion Caster Semenya at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 38 caption: World Junior Wheelchair Tennis no. 2 and 2016 Junior Athlete of the Year winner Nokwanda Hlongwane cuts a proud figure as she accepts the honour at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 39 caption: 10km Barcelona 1992 silver medallist Elana Meyer congratulates Athlete of the Year with Disability Award winner Kgothatso Montjane at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 40 caption: Kgothatso Montjane made a point of mentioning how winning the Athlete of the Year with Disability Award winner at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards boosted her confidence ahead of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 41 caption: Sports and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula (L) and SPAR South Africa Group Human Resources Executive Thuli Tabudi (R) congratulate the 2016 SPAR gsport Athlete of the Year winner, Caster Semenya, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 42 caption: 2016 SPAR gsport Athlete of the Year winner and world leader in the 800m after clinching gold in Rio, Caster Semenya, who dedicated the Award to her haters “because they make me stronger”, at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 43 caption: 2016 SPAR gsport Athlete of the Year winner Caster Semenya acknowledges the applause after her acceptance speech at the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards, hosted at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
Photo 44 caption: Winners on stage at the conclusion of the 2016 SPAR gsport Awards included (Back row from left) Carol Tshabalala, Karen Losch (Wheelchair Tennis SA), Charné Bosman, Motshidisi Mohono, Rachel Makhura, Caster Semenya, Tebogo Selebogo (National Lotteries Commission), Penny Heyns, Odessa Swarts and Tanya Mostert (Free State Crinums); (Second row) Janine Van Wyk, Kgothatso Montjane, Zelda Hansen, Busisiwe Mokwena, Mignon du Preez and Lena Sithole (Worldwide Sport); and (Front row) Mama Joy Chauke, Nokwanda Hlongwane, Minister Fikile Mbalula and Faith Sibeko, at The Venue in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, on Saturday 27 August, 2016. Photo: gsport
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