After years of stagnation and complaints coming out of the 2024 Olympics, a new independent body has formed to govern water polo in South Africa.
Water polo is officially under the guidance of Swimming South Africa (SSA), along with the other aquatics disciplines, but on Wednesday, South Africa Water Polo NPC (SA Water Polo) was launched with the goal of assuming governance in an attempt to revitalize the sport in South Africa.
Reports of a group of the country’s water polo players hoping to break away from SSA first surfaced last fall, though this new organization is adamant its intention is not to “break away.”
“For decades, water polo in South Africa has faced challenges, particularly in areas under the influence of Swimming South Africa (SSA),” SA Water Polo wrote in its press release. “Despite SSA’s efforts, the sport has struggled to fully transform and meet diversity objectives set by national policies. Recognizing this, the majority of the water polo community—including key regional leaders, Masters representatives, and passionate supporters—have united to take control of the sport’s future.”
SA Water Polo has the backing of the “vast majority of the water polo community” in South Africa, with its initial goal being to work alongside SSA, emphasizing that it is not a “breakaway” organization.
Members of the water polo community have lobbied with SSA to allow the sport to run its own affairs for some time, but after being rebuffed by the organization, they decided to pull the trigger on forming their own independent body.
“This is not a breakaway, but rather an empowered evolution of water polo in South Africa, undertaken by the sport’s true custodians,” their press release reads. “The goal is clear: to prioritise players, coaches, and officials, securing a sustainable and independent future free from restrictive external influences.”
“We aim to collaborate with SSA but are also prepared to seek recognition from World Aquatics if necessary,” SA Water Polo said.
The South African water polo community has become frustrated while operating under the SSA, particularly after the men’s and women’s national teams qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games but were not sent to compete in Paris due to failing to meet SSA’s internal qualification standard.
In a letter sent to the water polo community, SA Water Polo outlined its goal of moving on from the stagnation the sport has experienced in the last three decades and its plan to move forward and thrive.
“Water polo in South Africa is currently at a standstill, and it will remain so until it is run properly,” the letter reads. “The failures are very well documented and occur where Swimming South Africa (SSA) exerts influence, specifically at the development level and at the high performance level.
“In areas where they have little or no influence (schools and Masters), the sport is thriving.
“With the support of the vast majority of the community, from all of you who attended the town halls and voted for this, to the organised structures represented by the Chairs of most Regions and all of Masters (an overwhelming majority of the community), we are extremely excited to start the process of taking water polo forward.”
SA Water Polo has appointed Robbie Taylor as its interim CEO and have a nine-member interim executive committee, all of whom are currently volunteers:
- Robbie Taylor (interim CEO) – Masters swimmer, ex-water polo player, and CFO of listed companies (LSE/JSE).
- Duncan Woods – Chair Cape Town Water Polo, ex SA water polo captain and coach, Performance and Leadership Consultant
- Sieg Lokotsch – Chair NMB Water Polo, ex-water polo player, and Operations Director for Jendamark Automation.
- Tony Ferguson – Chair Gauteng Water Polo, ex water polo player, ex SwimSA Technical Committee Chair
- Jared Wingate-Pearse – Chair SA Masters Water Polo, ex SA water polo player, Finance entrepreneur
- Richard Irvine – In his personal capacity, but also Chair of Schools Water Polo South Africa.
- Delaine Mentoor – Former SA Women’s Water Polo Head Coach and player, first female head coach at the Olympic Games. Head of Aquatics at Pearson High School
- Steffanie Werrett – Chairperson, Eastern Gauteng Schools Waterpolo, ex-swimmer.
- Kevin Adriaan – In his personal capacity, but also SWPSA vice Chairman, WPSWP executive member, WPSWP General Manager, Head of Sport, Head of Water Polo at a renowned water polo school.
“This is the moment South African water polo has been waiting for,” Taylor said. “We are taking control, building the future, and ensuring that our athletes have the opportunities they deserve. The time for change is now.”
Moving forward, SA Water Polo will attempt to consult with SSA, which will need to recognize the new structure in order for SA Water Polo to get off the ground internationally.
“Failing this, SA Water Polo will engage with World Aquatics to recognize it separately from SSA as the body representing the vast majority of players in the country – as provided for in the World Aquatics constitution,” SA Water Polo said.
