Van Tonder, Padayachee claim top honours at Madibaz Sport Awards

Achievers Nelson Mandela University October 17, 2026 News desk

Proteas netball player Juanita van Tonder and hockey standout Sachin Padayachee have received the top individual honours at the annual Madibaz Sport Awards in...

Proteas netball player Juanita van Tonder and hockey standout Sachin Padayachee have received the top individual honours at the annual Madibaz Sport Awards in Gqeberha.

Van Tonder is named Sportswoman of the Year for the second year running, while Padayachee receives the Sportsman of the Year award.

The men’s hockey team, co-captained by Padayachee, takes the Team of the Year award after finishing fourth at the University Sports South Africa tournament and winning its fourth consecutive Eastern Province premier league title.

The awards recognise achievements across competitive, student and campus sport at Nelson Mandela University.

Three awards for Van Tonder

Van Tonder also receives the Student Sportswoman of the Year and Director of Sport awards.

“I must say, it’s crazy. I did not expect it after going up there last year,” she says.

“I feel so privileged to get it again. Getting the Director of Sport Award also blew me out of the water.”

The sport management student represents the Proteas at the Africa Cup in Malawi in December 2025 and in South Africa’s successful series against England in January 2026.

She is named a non-travelling reserve for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July before being called up for the Africa Qualifiers in Kenya in September.

The defender, who shares captaincy duties with the Eastern Cape Aloes in the Telkom Netball League, is also named the Varsity Netball tournament’s best player by both the judges and her fellow players.

Padayachee puts hockey in the spotlight

Padayachee graduates with a diploma in sport administration in April and is currently playing on contract for Germany’s Bremen Hockey Club.

He says the Sportsman of the Year award represents more than personal recognition because it draws attention to the progress of the Madibaz hockey programme.

“Getting the main award puts hockey on the map. Not many people looked at the code before, and it’s amazing to witness the growth and standard of the programme,” he says.

“That’s what I can take out of it; it’s less about me and more about us.”

Padayachee scores crucial goals in Madibaz’s final two USSA matches in Stellenbosch in July, helping the team secure fourth place overall.

He also plays an important role in the team’s unbeaten Eastern Province premier league campaign. Madibaz win all 14 matches, scoring 99 goals and conceding only seven.

The team reaches the USSA semifinals for a second consecutive year, reinforcing its place among the country’s leading university hockey sides.

Madibaz hockey’s progress recognised

The development of the hockey programme is reflected in the 25 Madibaz players selected for provincial and national duty during 2026.

Among them are Kian Cambier and Junior Sportsman of the Year Caden Skinnette, who are selected for the South African under-21 training squad.

Madibaz Hockey collects three awards during the ceremony: Sportsman of the Year, Team of the Year and Junior Sportsman of the Year.

Another highlight is the Phase 3 Residence men’s team receiving the Campus Sport Residence of the Year award.

The award recognises the most successful residence team across the Campus Life Festival and Campus Sport Leagues, with points allocated for participation and performance.