South Africa’s Aquatic Stars to Shine at the 2025 Bombela Concession Company Annual Aquatic Awards
More than just a celebration of trophies and times, the Awards will honour the incredible human stories behind South Africa’s aquatic excellence - from rising township swimmers breaking barriers, to coaches and volunteers who dedicate their lives to nurtur ing new talent.
This year’s ceremony promises to be a spectacular showcase of resilience, performance, and passion, shining a spotlight on the athletes, administrators, and support teams that make up the vibrant world of South African aquatics. Mr. Shaun Adriaanse, CEO of Swimming South Africa, said:
“These Awards go beyond medals. They represent the heartbeat of a community that wakes up before dawn, trains tirelessly, and believes in the power of sport to transform lives. Our partnership with Bombela is about more than sponsorship - it’s about legacy, visibility, and national pride.”
Mr. Andre van Rensburg, CEO of Bombela Concession Company, said:
“At Bombela Concession Company, we take great pride in supporting initiatives that celebrate South African excellence, and which inspire the next generation. Our partnership with Swimming South Africa reflects a shared commitment to transformation, empowerment, and national pride. The Annual Aquatic Awards is a tribute to resilience, unity, and the boundless potential of our country’s youth. Together, with SSA we are building a legacy and helping to unlock the potential of young South Africans from all walks of life. Supporting aquatic sports aligns perfectly with our vision of enabling sustainable growth and social impact in the communities we serve.”
Celebrating South Africa’s Aquatic Elite
The Awards feature 18 prestigious categories, including:
Swimmer of the Year
Para Athlete of the Year
Coach of the Year
and the crowd-favourite Aquatics Personality of the Year - decided by public vote.
The public voting campaign, launching soon, invites all South Africans to play their part in celebrating the nation’s aquatic heroes. It’s a moment for communities to rally behind their local clubs, young swimmers, and national icons - making this not just an awards evening, but a movement of national support for aquatics.
Pieter Coetze, World Champion swimmer, said:
“Being recognised at this level is more than an honour - it’s motivation. When partners like Bombela and SSA invest in celebrating us, it reminds the next generation that South African swimmers can stand tall on the world stage.”
Lara van Niekerk, Commonwealth Games champion, added:
“The awards evening is a night where the top athletes come together as family. It’s where we celebrate each other’s hard work, friendship, and national pride. SSA with the aid of Bombela are striving to help all South Africans to make Aquatics a sport where everyone belongs.”
The collaboration between Bombela Concession Company and Swimming South Africa continues to drive visibility, transformation, and opportunity within the sport. Together, they are amplifying the message that “Every South African a Swimmer” is not just a motto - it’s a national goal.
The nomination process is currently open to SSA affiliates, provinces, and clubs, closing on 10 November 2025. Winners, selected by an independent judging panel, will be revealed at the gala dinner in November.
From golden champions to grassroots changemakers, the 2025 Bombela Concession Company Annual Aquatic Awards promise to be a powerful celebration of achievement, perseverance, and hope - a night where South Africa’s aquatic community takes centre stage.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Mafata Modutoane
mafata.modutoane@swimsa.org or 073 226 5688.
Swimming South Africa is the governing body of aquatics in South Africa.
Its objective is to encourage the practice of aquatic disciplines for all in South Africa with the purpose of promoting swimming as a life skill through Learn to Swim programmes; providing healthy exercise to South Africans of all ages and races; recruiting recreational swimmers to compete in the various competitions; and promoting competition and athlete development to the highest level. Swimming South Africa is kindly supported by Bombela Concession Company, SASCOC, National Lottery Commission, Arena, Dept. Sport Art & Culture.