Born in Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape and now based in Pretoria, Mninawa Ndaku lives and breathes sport. By day, he’s a university sports co-ordinator; in his free time, you’ll find him at the gym, vibing to music, or catching up on reality shows. His motto, inspired by the late Nelson Mandela — “Sport has the power to change the world” — is something he brings to life with every match he officiates.
We caught up with Mninawa to chat about his netball journey, umpiring highs, and what makes the Telkom Netball League a career highlight.
1. How did your netball journey begin?
Back in primary school. When I got to high school, I played for the Eastern Cape U17 Boys Netball team that participated in the first ever SASN Boys Netball competition in Rustenburg.
2. How did you get into umpiring?
When I stopped playing National Championships, I still wanted to be involved in the sport. I did coaching for a few years, then I decided to just focus on umpiring.
3. Which tournaments have you umpired at so far, and which ones are your favourite or most memorable moments?
I have umpired a number of tournaments, namely:
- SPAR Women’s National Championships
- Telkom Netball League
- Male Netball Championships
- Varsity Netball
I absolutely love the Varsity Netball competition — the level of competition rises every year and it’s great to see the culture of high performance at universities.
My career highlight was umpiring the Seniors’ Final of the SPAR National Women’s Championships in Cape Town, 2021. I was still an NSA B+ at the time, and it was an amazing moment that motivated me to work even harder.
4. What is the most difficult part about being an umpire?
I think as a passion-driven person it’s difficult for me to find something challenging about being an umpire. But I’d say it’s when you must apply the game management rule to a player who doesn’t fully understand. It can take a lot out of you, especially when there’s a language barrier.
5. What’s your favourite part about being an umpire?
It’s knowing that the coaches and players trust you to apply the rules fairly and consistently. When that trust is established, players know where they stand and what’s expected, and the result is a good experience for everyone on court.
6. Talk us through some of this year’s Telkom Netball League excitement.
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G is the word that comes to mind. Teams have done their homework and are hungry to reach their goals. I think TNL has never been as unpredictable as it is this year.
7. What advice can you share as an umpire?
Always remember that as an umpire, you must contribute positively to the game of netball. Never be afraid to have difficult discussions — with yourself, your mentor, or your peers. Enjoy reading and engaging with the rules so you can continue to grow.
