Netball Leads the Way as Madibaz Honour Their Best

Netball stars Chinonso Dave, left, and Juanita van Tonder were named the Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year at the Madibaz Sports Awards function last night. Photo: Michael Sheehan

As netball continues its remarkable growth in South Africa, Mandela University’s Juanita van Tonder and Chinonso Dave were recognised as Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year, capping a standout season.

Gqeberha, South Africa (28 October 2025) – Netball in South Africa is on an upward trajectory. From the SPAR Proteas holding their own against the world’s best, to the SPAR Baby Proteas inspiring confidence in the next generation, the sport’s future has never looked brighter. Across the country, universities and clubs have become key hubs for developing that next wave of stars. By the looks of things, Nelson Mandela University is proving to be one of the strongest breeding grounds.

That was made clear at the 2025 Madibaz Sport Awards, where netball took centre stage once again. The code not only produced both the Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year, but also walked away with the Club of the Year and Community Engagement awards.

Netball standout Juanita van Tonder and her male counterpart Chinonso Dave capped off an exceptional season that extended well beyond university borders.

Juanita, a sports management student, earned her national colours earlier this year, representing the SPAR Proteas as goalkeeper in test series against New Zealand and Australia. Her strong form with the Nelson Mandela Bay A team at last year’s national championships also earned her a spot in the President’s squad, while she led the Eastern Cape Aloes to sixth place in South Africa’s top flight netball league, the Telkom Netball League.

“Winning this award is such a blessing and I really did not see it coming. I am truly honoured to be recognised in this way and I want to thank Mandela University for this award. I really appreciate it.”

For Chinonso Dave, an honours student in educational psychology, the recognition came as a pleasant surprise too. Having represented South Africa in a series against Zimbabwe last year and being named Nelson Mandela Bay’s best player of 2024, his leadership both on and off the court has been pivotal in growing men’s netball at the institution.

“I was definitely not expecting this but am truly grateful to Madibaz Sport for the recognition, especially in my final year. It shows that all the hard work over the last two years has paid off.”

As South African netball continues to reach new heights, the achievements of Juanita, Chinonso, and the Madibaz netball community underline the future Proteas are in motion.