Limpopo’s parasport athletes delivered a strong performance at the 2026 Toyota SASAPD National Championships held at Coetzenburg Stadium (Maties) in Stellenbosch from 28 March to 1 April, securing a total of 65 gold medals, 36 silver medals and 16 bronze medals across para-athletics and goalball.
The goalball senior team finished first overall, while the juniors shared second position, contributing to a combined team result that placed Limpopo joint second overall when all codes were tallied. Both the senior and junior para-athletics teams also finished second out of eight provinces.
The Limpopo side consisted of 106 athletes, goalball players, coaches and management staff. Of the 53 para-athletes, 30 are members of Isability Sports Club Limpopo.
“Isability is very proud of the performance of their team members as well as the performance of the juniors who have received some coaching assistance from the Isability coaches. It is not the medal count, but the attitude of the athletes and team assistants that bears applause. The team presented a united front. Seniors helped juniors and vice versa,” said Sandy James of Isability.
“Even when circumstances such as travel and accommodation logistics and a lack of accessibility presented severe challenges, the athletes remained united and knit as one team. It is this unity of purpose that was the true winner, and the mind-set that adversity loses the battle against a positive mind-set and faith in God,” said James.
As for individual achievements, Isability athlete Masala Makatu won gold in both the 200m and 100m at the prestigious Cape Winelands International Invitational on 28 March, racing against athletes from countries such as Germany, Mozambique and other Commonwealth nations. He went on to win gold in the 100m and 200m sprints at the SASAPD National Championships, recording times that place him in the top three on the current world rankings for the T12 (partially sighted) class. He ran personal bests in both events, with a 100m time of 11.20 seconds and a 200m time of 23.13 seconds.
Another local para-athlete who needs no introduction is Sheryl James. Competing in the T37 class for athletes with coordination impairments, she also won gold in her 100m and 200m events during the SASAPD National Championships. Just prior to that, she secured gold in the same events at the Cape Winelands International Invitational.
Three youngsters, Junior Mukansi, Vhuthuhawe Nemutandani and Miracle Malatji (all leg amputees and beneficiaries of Jumping Kids and Isability), also excelled. Vhuthuhawe competed for the first time in the track chair race (100m), achieving gold. He also secured gold in the javelin and discus. Junior also claimed three gold medals in the U/14 category (100m, 200m and long jump), while Miracle, competing two years above his age group in the U17 category, earned bronze medals in the 100m, 200m and long jump.
Three Isability youngsters, (from left to right) Junior Mukansi, Vhuthuhawe Nemutandani and Miracle Malatji also excelled at the SASAPD National Championships. Photo supplied.