11 March 2025
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa: Netball South Africa (NSA) hosted its highly anticipated Sponsorship Forum, a key annual event designed to foster collaboration among sponsors and stakeholders to drive the sport towards financial sustainability. Attended by government officials, corporate sponsors, and industry administrators, the forum provided a strategic platform for engagement, dialogue, and partnership-building to secure the future of netball in South Africa.
The event followed a series of remarkable achievements for Netball SA. In 2024, under the current administration, the SPAR Proteas and the men’s team celebrated a historic double victory in Namibia, both securing gold. South Africa also made history by successfully hosting Africa’s first-ever Netball World Cup in 2023. Additionally, the national U21 team has qualified for the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup, marking yet another milestone for the federation.
On the domestic front, the Telkom Netball League expanded in 2024 with the addition of Tshukudu, its 16th team, intensifying competition and further cementing netball’s growth. The sport has also witnessed an unprecedented surge in participation, with over 60 men’s teams competing across Senior A, B, and U23 divisions—highlighting the increasing footprint of men’s netball in the country.
Corporate Investment: A Catalyst for Netball’s Growth
Netball SA CEO Modiegi Komane emphasized that these achievements demonstrate the sport’s readiness for the next phase of its evolution. However, she noted that netball’s progress would not have been possible without the steadfast support of its sponsors.
“We could not have reached these heights without the unwavering commitment of our partners. Their contributions have been invaluable in driving netball’s success,” said Komane. “While we have made significant strides, securing further corporate investment is crucial to ensuring that netball continues to thrive as one of South Africa’s most prominent sporting codes.”
NSA’s current sponsorship portfolio includes leading organizations such as SPAR, Telkom, PUMA, Hollywoodbets, SuperSport, Discovery, Energade/Tyger Brands, City of Joburg, Gilbert Netball, National Lotteries Commission, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Renault, Southern Sun, Math n Co and Pick A Rose.
Beyond celebrating partnerships, the forum also served as a listening platform, allowing NSA to align its strategies with the expectations of sponsors and partners. The discussions sparked new collaborations and provided direct engagement with key decision-makers in the broadcast and commercial rights space.
Addressing Challenges in Women’s Sport and Netball’s Future
While the event celebrated netball’s progress, it also highlighted the ongoing challenges facing women’s sports in South Africa. These included:
Unequal Funding for Male and Female Sports: Discussions focused on strategic solutions for addressing disparities through increased government funding and corporate sponsorship. The forum also examined how limited financial support affects netball’s visibility and recognition compared to other mainstream sports.
Broadcast Rights & Media Coverage: The forum emphasized the urgent need for greater media coverage of women’s sports, as current visibility is largely skewed towards traditional, male-dominated disciplines. Expanding broadcasting rights for netball remains a critical priority.
Low Fan Engagement in Local Games: Stakeholders explored initiatives to boost attendance and fan engagement at domestic netball matches, strengthening the sport’s connection with its growing supporter base.Grassroots Development & Economic Constraints: NSA and its partners addressed the barriers young netball players face in underprivileged communities and explored ways to improve access, development, and professionalization pathways for aspiring athletes.
The Sponsorship Forum also provided an in-depth overview of South Africa’s netball landscape, encouraging meaningful conversations around content creation, commercial rights, and women’s representation in sport.
Expanding Netball’s Storytelling Through Digital Media
Netball SA has embraced digital storytelling through its official podcast series, creating a dedicated platform to celebrate past legends, current stars, coaches, and administrators. The podcast serves as a modern, engaging channel to share the stories of the sport’s most influential figures while amplifying netball’s growing presence in the South African sporting landscape.