South African women are making significant strides both on and off the sports field, heralding a new era of empowerment and achievement. These three dynamic women are making sure to leave a legacy
Gugu Melody Ntuli, President of the BusinessWomen of Africa Collective Capital ( BACC ) and CEO of Empiras Global Pty Ltd.
The sports performance and leadership guru Gugu’s distinguished career in sports performance and management is marked by significant achievements across multiple continents. After honing her expertise through nearly a decade in media and communication roles with SABC, ABSA and Private Wealth Management, Gugu made the transition into the world of sports. In the UK, her career took a pivotal turn when she joined the NHS Institute at Warwick University as a researcher. Her passion for sports led her to Leicestershire and Rutland Sport in Loughborough, where she led the performance division focused on enhancing the region’s athletic capabilities.
In 2008, she returned to South Africa as the CEO at Stellenbosch University Sport performance Institute (SUSPI), a role in which she spearheaded a transformative phase for the organisation during her four-year tenure. But her leadership extended beyond SUSPI as she was appointed to several committees of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). Notably, she contributed to the commercialisation of the organisation and co-authored the Coaching Framework for Sport in South Africa, a landmark initiative aimed at shaping the future of coaching in the country. Her expertise caught the attention of global sports brands and she subsequently managed marketing, communications, branding, public relations and e-commerce at Adidas Emerging Markets South and West Africa, driving Adidas’ influence in the region.
Bohlokwa Mokone, Qualified Biokineticist and Sport Scientist
Breaking barriers in sports conditioning Only 26, Bohlokwa is already a standout figure in sports conditioning. As the head strength and conditioning coach for the Central Gauteng women’s cricket team aka DP World Lions Women’s Team, and a key member of the coaching staff for the first-ever professional season of South African women’s cricket, she is making history in her field. Bohlokwa also serves as a strength and conditioning coach at the Johannesburg Wanderers Sports Medical Centre in Johannesburg, applying her expertise across various sports. Her academic credentials are impressive: a BSc Honours in Biokinetics (Cum Laude) from the University of the Witwatersrand, an Advanced Diploma in Kinesiology and Coaching Science and a Diploma in Sport Science from Tshwane University of Technology.
Notably, Bohlokwa made history as the only female strength and conditioning coach in the Men’s Football Varsity Cup’s inaugural seasons (2022–2023) and was the youngest in her role. Her athletic achievements include provincial colours in hockey, leading the Tshwane University of Technology Hockey team to victory at the University Sports South Africa Hockey B Section Championships as captain, and serving as a flag bearer at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final. Bohlokwa’s groundbreaking career and dedication to sports make her a rising star and an inspiration to many.
Siyabonga Ntuli, Sports Videographer and TV Content Director
A visionary in sports videography Siyabonga has carved a remarkable niche for herself in the sports industry over nearly two decades, establishing a reputation as a leading sports videographer, TV content director and founder of Siyacharmer Production. Her career is marked by the exceptional ability to create and tell captivating stories through her camera lens, providing coverage of an impressive array of sports events globally. Since 2008, Siyabonga has consistently demonstrated her prowess across both international and local sporting events. Her long tenure as a senior camera operator with Vision View, spanning 15 years, laid the foundation for her extensive experience in the field.
Recently, she transitioned to freelance work, covering the Basketball Africa League (BAL) conference in Kigali, Rwanda, where she showcased her adaptability and expertise in sports media. Her extensive portfolio not only highlights her technical skills but also her deep passion for storytelling. Her impressive career and the significant contributions she’s made to sports videography underpin her role as a visionary in the industry, continually capturing and sharing the essence of sports with audiences around the world.
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