Fashioning Modern Africanism

  In an historic moment of recognition, the 2023 Special Olympics South Africa National Team received a profound honour yesterday as His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa, warmly welcomed them to a special ceremony hosted at the iconic Union Buildings in Pretoria. This event, a significant milestone in South Africa's history, is especially poignant given the late President Nelson Mandela's support for Special Olympics South Africa. For the first time, the National Government of South Africa officially acknowledged and celebrated the extraordinary achievements of individuals with intellectual disabilities in the realm of sports. This momentous occasion was imbued with pride and inspiration as President Ramaphosa congratulated the 2023 National Team for their exceptional achievements on the global stage at the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games held in Berlin, Germany. Competing against 7,000 athletes from over 180 countries, they exhibited unwavering determination and

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT  TO BACK SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTH AFRICA N   NATIONAL TEAM      The Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA) National Team has received an incredible boost ahead of the highly anticipated Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin, Germany, as the Deputy Minister of Social Development, Ms Hendriette Bogopane-Zulu, has declared her unwavering support for the team. In an unprecedented move, the Deputy Minister will be joining the National Team as their Number One Cheerleader, traveling to Berlin in June to rally behind the talented athletes. Additionally, the Deputy Minister will be participating in the esteemed Special Olympics Global Coalition, a prominent international body dedicated to promoting inclusivity and empowerment globally. With a steadfast commitment to uplifting and empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities, the Deputy Minister has shown immense dedication to the cause throughout her career. By joining the Special Olympics South Af

       Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA) officially launched the  “Adopt an Athlete” campaign in January this year to help to raise funds to get the 2023 SOSA National Team to the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin,Germany. The “Adopt an Athlete” campaign was created by SOSA in 2016 to help raise funds for international participation for their athletes. Fortunately, as in previous years a number of corporates and individuals have already stepped up to “Adopt an Athlete” and support the team in various ways.   Picture Credit: Mr Michael Tau These include: Rossimoda (via Sole Agents) - providing bespoke Team branded tracksuits African Bank – Adopted 5 Athletes SOSA Chairperson Dr Mathews Phosa – Adopted 2 Athletes Stabus – Adopted 2 Athletes The Booth Group Foundation - Adopted 2 Athletes Duma Collective – Adopted 1 Athlete Amtronix Diagnostics – Adopted 1 Athlete Intercape – Adopted 1 Athlete Kool-a-Chem - Providing Novelty Items Gift of the Givers - Providing Toiletries a

      With less than 3 months until the Special Olympics Summer World Games in Germany this June, Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA) today announced its official partnership with Bryan Habana’s MATCHKIT in support of the sport tech’s ‘Adopt an Athlete’ campaign              Johannesburg, South Africa -  Launched in February 2023, the Adopt an Athlete campaign will help raise much-needed funds in support of the 2023 Special Olympics South Africa National Team. The team will represent the country at the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin, Germany from 17 – 25 June 2023. The games will welcome 7,000 Special Olympic athletes and Unified partners from approximately 170 countries to compete in 24 sports. The field will be supported by more than 3,000 coaches and 20,000 volunteers. Habana, who is recognised as one of the greatest rugby players of all time, believes in the power of sport and its positive impact amongst society and that this partnership will aid in the empower

       (L-R)  SOSA Athletes Nhlanhla Mkabane, Banele Makhubo, Thatohantsi Mokgotla, David Van der Riet and Nathalie Cost The Sneaker Shack and Totalsports, through their Project Run collaboration are proud to announce their partnership with Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA) on the Road to Berlin.  At a handover ceremony on April 1st at The Sneaker Shack store in Rosebank, 100 pairs of sneakers were given to the CEO of SOSA, Ms Ancilla Smith, in the presence of a number of celebrities, media, and athletes from the 2023 Special Olympics South Africa National Team.  This partnership represents a significant contribution to the success of the campaign SOSA is currently running to cover the needs of the 2023 Special Olympics South Africa National Team that will be competing at the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany from the 17th – 25th June 2023.  In addition to this donation, The Sneaker Shack has announced that all sneakers donated during the month of April at any of

     The Special Olympics South Africa National Team launches it’s “Road to Berlin” South Africa is encouraged to “Adopt an Athlete”     Special Olympics South Africa today officially launched the “Road to Berlin” On the 12 th  June the 2023 Special Olympics South Africa National Team will depart for Berlin, Germany to compete at the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Our 2023 National Team, chosen at the Special Olympics South Africa National Games in Polokwane, will be competing against 7000 athletes from 190 countries in what is being hailed as the world's largest inclusive sporting event. They will be hoping to replicate the incredible successes of our 2019 South Africa National that returned victorious from the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in the United Arab Emirates with 35 Gold, 15 Silver and 12 Bronze medals! Dr Mathews Phosa, Chairperson of Special Olympics South Africa noted;  “The athletes of Special Olympics South Africa are the biggest medal winners

  CELEBS TAKE THE PLUNGE TO HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR SPECIAL OLYMPIC NATIONAL GAMES       The annual Special Olympics South Africa Polar Plunge is back!  Now, in its  6 th  year,  over 150 celebs and well-known personalities have already committed to taking the plunge into icy water to help raise funds for the 2022 Special Olympics South Africa National Games taking place in Limpopo in October.   Last year Special Olympics South Africa, a sport for development NGO, received overwhelming support from celebrities, personalities, media and corporate South Africa raising over R120k. A further R 100k was pledged but those funds are still outstanding. Funds raised last year were in support of the Special Olympics South Africa’s National Teams participation in the 2022 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Russia but these games were understandably cancelled. These funds have been now been committed to also support this year’s National Summer Games   This year’s participants will once again the

Special Olympics South Africa together with the Limpopo Provincial Government today announced that the province will host the esteemed Special Olympics Summer National Games 2022 in Limpopo Province.                              Launching the partnership, the festivities will officially kick off on the International Day of People Living with Disability (IDPWD) with a Unified Tournament and Parade that will hosted by the Limpopo this coming Friday, 3 rd  December 2021 at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, 10h00.   The Unified Parade led by the honourable Premier Chupu Stanley Mathabatha and the Chairperson of Special Olympics South Africa Dr Mathews Phosa, will see various athletes, community members, local media and well known Special Olympic SA Ambassadors / Celebrities participate. Post formalities, the day will conclude with a Unified Soccer Tournament with various athletes and sport celebrities.   “As a Province, we are honoured to host this important event of Special Olympics Summer Nation

CELEBS HELPS RAISE FUNDS TO SEND SPECIAL OLYMPICS SA NATIONAL TEAM TO THE WINTER GAMES IN RUSSIA      With a growing participant list of over 170 South African celebrities, well know personalities, media and industry players who have committed to plunge, the 5 th  annual Special Olympics South Africa Polar Plunge marks the biggest since its inception in 2017. With 5 days to go, the organization today officially announced the ‘final’ list of plungers participating this year. Funds raised will support the 2021 Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA) National Team who will be competing in the 2023 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Russia. The Winter Games have been postponed to January 2023 due to pending wave 4 concerns globally. The Polar Plunge is an annual Special Olympic South Africa fundraising event, which has received overwhelming support from media, celebrities and corporate South Africa over the past four years. Participants commit to taking the “plunge” into a pool with 5 ton

    Johannesburg, South Africa  - Special Olympics South Africa and the Shudufhadzo Foundation this past weekend launched their partnership with Fulufhelo Special School in Tohoyandou, Vhembe in Limpopo Province. The partnership will focus on the mental health and physical well-being of children and adults living with an intellectual disability (ID) and also aims to create awareness of the challenges faced by people living with ID in South Africa.                    Ms Shudufhadzo Musida, the Chairperson of the Shudufhadzo Foundation, who spoke at the launch said,  “It is important to note that while ID is not a mental illness, children and adults with ID experience stigmatisation, discrimination, bullying, neglect and marginalisation which leaves them at greater risk of developing mental health issues. They are often diagnosed only with ID and not screened for potential mental health problems.” The partnership was launched with the announcement of a pilot project at Fulufhelo Special