Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is recognised by Act of Parliament as the national controlling body for mind sports in South Africa.
Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is also an affiliate of the International eSports Federation, Fédération Mondiale du Jeu de Dames, and the International Wargames Federation. Due to its membership of such international bodies, the MSSA is the sole authority for the games that it caters for in terms of the Sport and Recreation Act, number 110 of 1998 (as amended).
History Mind Sports South Africa was formally constituted on 14 December 1985. However, it was not until 1990 that the MSSA became a member of NOCSA in 1990, and in 1991 that the MSSA became affiliated to the Confederation of South African Sports Confederation (COSAS).
The MSSA was one of the members that encouraged unity during the apartheid era, and thus voted in favour of the unifying of sport. As a consequence of the actions of the many National Federations, the National Sports Council was formed in 1994 and was immediately accepted as a full member of the newly formed body. Upon dissolution of the NSC in 1999, the MSSA played its part in supporting the formation of the South African Sports Commission in 1999.
Once the South African Sports Commission was formed (by Act of Parliament) the MSSA again was accepted as a full member. Even when the Minister of Sport and Recreation saw the need to ask Parliament to amend the Sports and Recreation Act (number110 of 1998), the official recognition of Mind Sports South Africa remained unchanged as the MSSA became a founding member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC).
All the games promoted by Mind Sports South Africa are accredited as national sports. Such accreditation by the Sports and Recreation Act (number110 of 1998), guarantees the MSSA as being the only authority for the administration and control of the games that fall under the MSSA's jurisdiction.
The MSSA changed its name in 2005 from the South African Wargames Union (SAWU) to that of Mind Sports South Africa.
Structure Mind Sports South Africa, like other sports federations in South Africa, is constituted as a voluntary association.
The highest authority of the MSSA is the Annual General Meeting which holds all Committees accountable for their actions.
The executive committee meets a minimum of twice a year, and requires a full report from the management board.
The management board deals with the day-to-day operations of the MSSA and overseas the different Boards of Control. Clubs are directly affiliated to the MSSA which ensures that there is greater transparency and inclusion.
History of the emblem Back in the early 1990s, the South African Wargames Union (as the MSSA was then known) was invited to participate in the World Team Championships for Wargames. Up until that point the MSSA used the rampant lion as its symbol. However, it was felt by the committee to approach the State Herald to design something specifically for the MSSA that best represented the games as administered by the MSSA. The State Herald Frederick Brownell designed the Janus Knight for the MSSA.
The logo is made up of the following aspects:
The double-headed knight chess piece: The knight chess piece is already an international symbol for army battle school. The symbol represents tactical and strategic thought and training. By making the symbol a double-headed knight, it also incorporates the concepts of considering the opponent's moves and shows the mental versatility of gamers.
The circle: The circle represents the rules to which all the games are played, and the unity of all the games that the MSSA represents.
Disciplines and games under the jurisdiction of the MSSA In terms of its Constitution, Mind Sports South Africa caters for a wide variety of Mind Sports in South Africa, such as:
Board gaming Backgammon Draughts (Anglo-American, Pool Checkers and International) Morabaraba (also known as Mlabalaba) Moruba SesothoMorabaraba Speed Stacking Card gaming
Figure gaming Ancients (3000 BC to 1500 AD) Pike & Shot (1500 AD to 1700 AD) Horse & Musket (1700 to 1845) World War II (1939 to 1945) eSports Console gaming Mobile gaming PSP gaming Personal computer gaming Robotics
How games are chosen Every year the MSSA holds an Annual General Meeting (AGM)directly after the South African National Championships. It is at such AGM that the games to be played in the Esports Discipline are selected by the member clubs.
Esports titles to be played at 2021 Provincial and National Championships Saturday Clash Royale FIFA 21 Hearthstone Paladins Street Fighter V League of Legends Sunday Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Dota 2 Tekken 7
Esports titles to be played at 2021 Online School Championships Clash Royale Counter-Strike: GO Dota 2 FIFA 19 League of Legends Paladins PES 2019 Street Fighter V
Esports titles to be played at 2021 High School LAN Provincial and National Championships Saturday Clash Royale FIFA 19 Paladins PES 2019 Sunday CounterStrike: GO Dota 2 League of Legends Street Fighter V
State awards In 2002, David Hlophe received the President's Award (Silver Class) from the President, Mr Thabo Mbeki, at the President's residence in Cape Town. In 2003, Rhonnie Manana and Thabo Mokoena were finalists at the South African Sports Awards. In 2007, Berneice Ligault and Amanda Kwaza were also finalists at the South African Sports Awards. in 2013, Simphiwe Maphumulo was the recipient of the Indigenous Sports Star of the Year award at the S A Sports Awards.
Other awards In 2005, Colin Webster was a recipient of the Ekuhurleni Outstanding Sports Administrator Award In 2010, Barry Booysen was a recipient of the Ekuhurleni Volunteer of the Year Award In 2013, Morizane Boyes was the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award at the Spar GSport Awards In 2014, Lubabalo Kondlo was a finalist in the Eastern Cape Provincial Sportsman of the Year Awards In 2014, Kyle Wolmarans was a finalist in the Eastern Cape Provincial Media Person of the Year Awards
Management Board Awards Year Mind Sports Person of the Year Board Gamer of the Year Esports Gamer of the Year Wargamer of the Year Volunteer of the Year Writer of the Year Sponsor of the Year Umpire of the year Social Media Person of the Year Coach of the Year Team of the Year Educator of the Year 2009 Colin Webster Mothusi Moabi Stephen White Edward van Trotsenburg Ryan van den Bergh Muhammed Nagdee Incredible Connection 2010 Frans Brewis Simphiwe Maphumulo Nialle Momsen Gregory Laycock Ryan van den Bergh Jaco Diedericks Incredible Connection 2011 Jaco Engelbrecht Lubabalo Kondlo Robert Botha David Vannucci Ryan van den Bergh Alexandra Kayle ASUS 2012 Robert Botha Simphiwe Maphumulo Gabriela Isaacs Eugene Burger Louis Brown Han Cilliers GIGABYTE 2013 Simphiwe Maphumulo Simphiwe Maphumulo Lyrene Kuhn Colin Webster Dorian Love Han Ciliiers MWEB 2014 Morizan Boyes Lubabalo Kondlo Barry West Elishia Retief Louis Brown Kyle Wolmarans MWEB 2015 Elishia Retief Lubabalo Kondlo Kyle Turnbull Jason Batzofin Morizane Boyes Andrew Rose of My Community MWEB 2016 Jason Batzofin Lucille Brown Matthew Smith Garth Schoeman Colin Webster Tamzyn Pamplin of MyComLink SterKinekor 2017 Adele Janse Van Rensburg Cassandra van Tonder Mxolisi Lukhele Terence Allwright Alwyn van Wyk Tamzyn Pamplin of MyComLink TULUNTULU 2018 Jessie Joubert Chanel De Wet Marisa van Der Westhuizen Terence Allwright Johan van Breda Tamzyn Pamplin My Comlink TULUNTULU 2019 Dr. Janine Brand Saudah Bhaimia Terrance Broomberg Angellah Sulamoyo Christiaan Botes Jermain Craig Saturday Star TULUNTULU Johan van Breda Riaan Jessie Joubert ZAG Paladins Gary Blieden 2020 Johan van Breda Saudah Bhaimia Rafeeq Cariem Colin Webster Johan van Breda AWSUM NEWS ZAG Academy Jessie Joubert Barry Bridges Jessie Joubert PES Society Diana Barnard 2021 Jonathan Brown Saudah Bhaimia Jonathan Brown Colin Webster Johan van Breda AWSUM NEWS North West University (NWU) Anneke Lourens Luies Barry Bridges Jessie Joubert ZAG DotA Anneke Lourens Luies 2022 Johan van Breda Saudah Bhaimia Bernice Botha Colin Webster Anneke Lourens Luies AWSUM NEWS North West University (NWU) Jessie Joubert Colin Webster Jessie Joubert CSGO and Dota - Curro Lonehill Desiree Botha 2023 Anneke Lourens Luies Suimphiwe Maphumulo Mohammed Rido Hendericks No award Anneke Lourens Luies Germiston News North West University (NWU) Anneke Lourens Luies MyComlink Armand van der Colf Mikara Nokraj Desiree Botha 2024 Jessica Greef No award Jessica Greef Terry Allwright Johan van Breda Alicia Pillay North West University Armand van der Colf Colin Webster Amirali Zahedi Female CSGO Team Tiaan Lotter
World champions produced
South Africa has produced the following world champions: Period Year Name Member Club Ancients – Senior 2012 Eugene Burger Maritzburg Christian School Wargames Club 2013 Colin Webster Old Edwardian Wargames Club 2014 Colin Webster Old Edwardian Wargames Club 2015 Colin Webster Old Edwardian Wargames Club Ancients – women 2006 Bernice Ligault Old Edwardian Wargames Club 2007 Bernice Ligault Old Edwardian Wargames Club 2014 Elishia Retief Old Edwardian Wargames Club 2015 Elishia Retief Old Edwardian Wargames ClubAncients – Junior males 2000 Andre Tonkin Krugersdorp High School 2001 Matthew Strachan Old Edwardian Wargames Club 2002 Benjamin Shulman Old Edwardian Wargames Club 2003 Angelo Stathoussis Peninsula Wargames Group 2004 Angelo Stathoussis Peninsula Wargames Group 2005 Angelo Stathoussis Peninsula Wargames Group 2009 Duane Havenga Pretoria Boys High School 2010 Gregory Laycock Pretoria Boys High School 2012 Gregory Laycock Pretoria Boys High School 2013 Adam Louw Pretoria Boys High School 2014 Jason Batzofin St John's College 2014 Jason Batzofin St John's College eSports – mobile games 2005 Logan Brooke-Smith Exactmobile Morabaraba – Senior 1997 Gilbert Magabotse Spoornet Morabaraba Club 1999 Amos Mavuso Spoornet Morabaraba Club 2000 David Hlophe Spoornet Morabaraba Club 2001 David Hlophe Leandra Giant Killers 2002 Simon Skhosana Leandra Giant Killers 2003 Simphiwe Maphumulo Alexandra High School 2007 Moses Rannyadi Impala Plats. 2012 Simphiwe Maphumulo Pietermaritzburg Morabaraba Club 2013 Simphiwe Maphumulo Zola Checkers Club Morabaraba – Junior 2002 Innocent Khubeka Leandra Giant Killers 2003 Simphiwe Maphumulo Alexandra High School 2005 Teresa Chen Maritzburg Girl's High 2007 Innocent Khubeka Leandra Giant Killers Pike & Shot – Senior 2002 Edward van Trotsenburg Technikon Witwatersrand 2009 Edward van Trotsenburg Bedfordview Mind Sports Club
Medal winners South Africa has produced the following medal winners in international championships: