Montjane and Ramphadi fly the Limpopo flag high at Roland Garros

Montjane and Ramphadi fly the Limpopo flag high at Roland Garros

Limpopo-born wheelchair tennis stars Kgothatso ‘KG’ Montjane and Donald Ramphadi made history on Saturday after they won their first-ever Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros.

The pair became the first South Africans both able-bodied and wheelchair, to win the title since Johan Kriek in 1981.

Ramphadi, who hails from Tzaneen, and his doubles partner Andy Lapthorne defeated Heath Davidson and Robert Shaw to claim the Quad Wheelchair Doubles title 1-6, 6-2, 10-3.

ALSO READ: Netball World Cup trophy tour continues in Limpopo 

Ramphadi is currently South Africa’s leading wheelchair tennis quad player. He won the wheelchair quad singles title at the Belgian Open in 2022. The same year he also made his Wimbledon debut.

Limpopo-born wheelchair tennis stars Kgothatso Montjane and Donald Ramphadi won their first-ever Roland Garros
Donald Ramphadi

KGOTHATSO MONTJANE AND DONALD RAMPHADI MAKE HISTORY AT ROLAND GARROS

Montjane on the other hand claimed her Grand Slam champion title alongside her partner Yui Kamiji. They beat De Groot and Maria Moreno with an impressive 6-3, 6-2 victory.

The Seshego-born was the first African wheelchair tennis player to compete at Wimbledon. She was handed a wild card for the Wimbledon Grand Slam tournament in London in 2018.

In 2012, she also made Wimbledon history by being the first black South African woman to reach the final while reaching the doubles final as well.

Nominees for the 2022 South African Sport Awards revealed 

Nominees for the 2022 South African Sport Awards revealed 

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa has announced the return of the 16th edition of the South African Sport Awards (SASA). The awards will be held on Saturday 25 March, 2023 Sun City Superbowl in the North West Province.

Some noatble nominees include Mamelodi Sundowns ladies goalkeeper Andile Dlamini nominated for Sports Stars of the year alongside Ashleigh Buhai and Mathew Sates. The awards carry a total of 19 categories including the Sport Star of the Year award and the People’s Choice Athlete of the Year award.

All categories recognise performances from the individuals, teams and administrators of the South African sporting fraternity for the period under review 01 September 2021-31 August 2022.

Minister Kodwa in his nominees reveal remarks indicated the following:

“The South African Sport Awards serves to recognise and honour individuals and teams within the Sporting fraternity who have excelled both on and off the field of Sport. This prestigious recognition event will be delivered under the theme ‘Celebrating sporting excellence.”

South African Sport Awards Nominees 

SPORT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR    
Portia Dimu
Sibongile Fondini
Cornelia Swanepoel

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
Michaela Whitebooi
Lara Van Niekerk
 Shabnim Ismael

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
Akani Simbine
Andy Birkett
Pieter Coetzee

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR WITH A DISABILITY
Jonathan Ntutu
Donald Ramphadi
Christian Sadie

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR WITH A DISABILITY
Cornelle Leach
Kat Swanepoel
Minke Janse Van Rensburg

COACH OF THE YEAR

Neil Powell
Hilton Moreeng
Rocco Meiring

SPORTS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Thato Moeng
Hloni Mthimkhulu
Mathews Mpete

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Samkelo Gambushe
Ronnie Tippett
Steve Haag

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Simnikiwe Bongco
Marco Jansen
Mustapha Cassiem

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Joy Goulooze (Life saving)
Zizo Popu (Eastern Cape)
Marissa Potgieter (Para-Sport Classifier)

SPORTS STAR OF THE YEAR
Andile Dlamini
Ashleigh Buhai
Mathew Sates

TEAM OF THE YEAR
Banyana Banyana
Proteas Women ODI
SA Rugby 7s

FEDERATION OF THE YEAR
Cricket South Africa
South African National Boxing Organisation
South African Sport Association for The Physically Disabled

RECREATION BODY OF THE YEAR
Peace Players SA
Waves For Change
Color Run SA

INDIGENOUS GAME TEAM  
Limpopo-Ncuva
KZN-Khoko
Eastern Cape- Drie Stokkies

SCHOOL TEAM OF THE YEAR
Edendale THS (Women’s football)
Drostdy High School (Tug of war)
St Benedict’s College (Rowing)

DEVELOPING SCHOOL OF THE YEAR
Kopanong Primary School (Cricket)
Madiba-A-Toloana (Rowing)
Helen Frans Special School (Wheelchair Tennis)

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD (this category Sport fans are encouraged to participate by voting for their athlete of choice by dialling *120*32020# followed by an alphabet representing your athlete of choice) and the nominees are:
A. Refiloe Jane
B. Ayabonga Khakha
C. Tatjana Schoenmaker  
D. Themba Zwane
E. Kagiso Rabada