The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has confirmed that broadcasting royalty Lerato Kganyago and Graeme Richards will take the helm as hosts of the 19th South African Sport Awards. The event is set to take place on Sunday, 23 August 2026, at the iconic Sun City Superbowl in North West.
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This year’s theme, ‘Crowned by Greatness,’ could not be more fitting for a night to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of South Africa’s sporting elite across 19 categories. From the Paris Olympics and Paralympics to world championship podiums, the Class of 2025 gave this nation moments we will never forget.
SA Sport Awards bring together a dynamic duo
Lerato Kganyago, or LKG, as she is affectionately known, needs little introduction.
Born and raised in Soweto, her journey to stardom started in 2002 when she was crowned Miss Jam Alley, followed by Miss Soweto in 2005. From hosting the FIFA Soccer World Cup for the SABC to becoming a beloved voice on Metro FM’s Midday Link Up, Lerato has cemented her place as one of the country’s most versatile media personalities.
She has also graced the stages of the South African Film and Television Awards, proving she can command any room she walks into.
A star-studded lineup of nominees
The night will honour performances from 1 January to 31 December 2025. Among those vying for the prestigious Sport Star of the Year award are Proteas cricket captain Temba Bavuma, Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx and Olympic silver medallist sprinter Akani Simbine.
In the women’s categories, Proteas Women’s cricket captain Laura Wolvaardt, canoeing sensation Kira Bester and athletics star Prudence Sekgodiso are nominated for Sportswoman of the Year.
Paralympic heroes will also receive their due recognition. Wheelchair tennis star Kgothatso Montjane, along with Sheryl James and Simoné Kruger, are up for Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability, while Mpumelelo Mhlongo, who was crowned Sportsman of the Year with a Disability at last year’s edition, returns to defend his title.
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The Steve Tshwete Lifetime Achievement Award nominees include athletics legend Zola Budd, Olympic marathon champion Josiah Thugwane, motorsport pioneer Desiree Wilson and cricket figure Susie Pather, a reminder that greatness is not just about the present, but about the shoulders on which our current stars stand.
The 19th edition marks another milestone for an event that has been honouring South Africa’s finest since its inauguration in 2005. With Kganyago’s effervescent charm and Richards’s seasoned gravitas, this promises to be a night where legends are crowned, and history is made.
The 19th South African Sport Awards take place on Sunday, 23 August 2026, at Sun City Superbowl. The ceremony will be broadcast live on SABC 1 at 8pm.
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