Latest news with #Lokotsch
Daily Maverick
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Top-flight water polo returns with new national franchise tournament
TOP-FLIGHT water polo is set for a resurgence in South Africa with the kick-off of a new national franchise tournament that is set to bring over 150 players, coaches, referees and support staff to Nelson Mandela Bay in August. Sponsored by leading automation manufacturer Jendamark, the inaugural event of the South Africa Water Polo Winter Series will see 112 of the country's elite senior players drafted into four men's and four women's squads that are set to churn up the water of the Newton Park Indoor Pool from August 8 to 10. The new Winter Series is similar in concept to the SA20 cricketing format, introducing a franchise system to help level the playing field and offer an alternative to the regional dominance of Western Province and Gauteng teams in inter-provincial competition. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads It also marks the first national tournament run under the auspices of the newly formed South Africa Water Polo (SAWP), which has successfully challenged Swimming South Africa in court for the rights to promote the interests of this growing sport. Tournament director Siegfried Lokotsch, who is also the title sponsor's director of operations, said adding a new franchise event to the national calendar would reinvigorate senior competition and extend the season beyond the traditional autumn finish. 'This franchise format creates a fresh dynamic that's both exciting to watch and allows players to compete strength for strength. Our sport is not going to get stronger if only the top provinces are getting stronger.' With the game gaining traction at top schools countrywide, Lokotsch said it was important to reignite competitive senior water polo, while also promoting grassroots development. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads 'For SA Water Polo, it's really about the broader development of the game and being more inclusive. We want to create opportunities that give young athletes from all backgrounds something to strive for,' he added. Lokotsch said year-round development would be at the heart of SAWP's efforts, with the Nelson Mandela Bay region creating the blueprint of what this could look like. With the help of volunteers like Claudia Charles, a former water polo player whose eldest daughter, Jenna, now represents Eastern Province, the Learn to Polo development programme is introducing children in the northern areas and township schools to swimming and, ultimately, water polo. 'I'm so grateful to them for seeing the need to develop. Water polo has a rich history in the Northern Areas, and the Gelvandale pool played a big role in getting kids into the sport when I was at school. But with lack of infrastructure and systems support, it fell away. 'It's a great privilege to be part of this, especially with that pool reopening again, it's a light of hope, and I'm so grateful to Siegfried and his team for putting in some serious support and investing in these children,' said Charles. The after-school programme, which is already underway, started with an assessment of the children's swimming abilities, followed by twice-weekly training sessions with a qualified swimming coach to develop fitness and strength before introducing them to the basics of water polo. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Chapman High School teacher Shari Kemp said the Gelvandale-based school was happy to have been included in the programme. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads 'It means a lot to the learners. They don't always have the opportunities or the resources. So, for them to be involved in such an amazing programme, with people who know so much about the sport, is a great learning opportunity. They're a bit nervous but excited to learn.' Transport to and from the heated Newton Park Indoor Pool is covered by SAWP's regional structure, with further plans to introduce a summer programme, led by a professional coach, at the Gelvandale pool. 'The idea is to identify and nurture emerging talent throughout the programme, and possibly get them into water polo-playing schools,' explained Lokotsch. 'There is so much rugby talent coming from under-resourced schools, and this is where we are missing a trick. I believe rugby players make the best water polo players, and vice versa. Some of our Springbok stars, like Malcolm Marx, were also great at polo. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads 'So, there's a real opportunity to unlock that untapped potential. We're best in the world at rugby; we could also be best in the world in the water,' he said. A development clinic for players, coaches and referees will be an anchor element of the Winter Series schedule, and proceeds from the weekend tournament will be used to fund the schools programme. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads 'You only get one chance to have your first event, and if we make a splash here, and we really ignite something, I think you're going to see the start of some serious growth,' said Lokotsch. If successful, the new Winter Series format will be expanded to Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban next year. DM
The Citizen
03-08-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
'It's just gone', Trumps tariffs cost SA company R750m overnight
The blow risks the livelihoods of the company's 500 employees and around 3 000 people working in its local supply chain. South African companies are already starting to face the impact of the US President Donald Trump's tariffs, with one losing R750 million in contracts overnight. Trump ordered the reimposition of 30% tariffs on dozens of trading partners, including South Africa, on Thursday – his cornerstone strategy for reshaping global trade to benefit the US economy. The rand fell to its lowest level in three months, while thousands of jobs are in danger. The US president has warned of slapping an additional 10% on the Brics nations and any other economy aligned with the grouping. Millions lost Jendamark Automation, based in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, is among several businesses that export high-level manufactured goods and agricultural products like ostrich leather and raisins to America, whose products have become 30% more expensive overnight. Managing director Siegfried Lokotsch told City Press that the impact has been swift and severe. The 500 employees at Jendamark Automation build automated assembly lines and develop production software for automotive manufacturers Ford, BMW, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz. According to Lokotsch, he had to inform the company's board that contracts worth R750 million, which they were on the verge of signing in the next few months, had evaporated. 'It's just gone.' ALSO READ: Trump's 30% tariffs on SA a 'barrier to trade and shared prosperity', Presidency says [VIDEO] Job losses Lokotsch said the blow risks the livelihoods of the company's 500 employees and around 3 000 people working in its local supply chain. The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber, representing about 700 businesses in the region, is concerned about the scale of the threat. 'Big blow' Denise van Huyssteen, chief executive officer of the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber. said the imposition of the 30% tariffs by the United States on South Africa on 7 August is a big blow for local businesses, especially in the automotive and agricultural sectors. 'The Eastern Cape economy is likely to be the most adversely affected in the country by these developments. This is not just an issue which affects companies that do trade with the US, it is a global issue. 'The global trading system has been upended, and relationships between long-standing trading partners will shift as countries move to protect their own interests and domestic economies. Multinationals will also adjust their manufacturing footprints to assemble in those markets where they can do so the most efficiently and competitively,' Van Huyssteen said. Concerns Van Huyssteen said they are deeply concerned about the impact of these developments may have on our automotive industry which is anchored by the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) which undertake completely-knocked down assembly in South Africa. 'These OEMs are responsible for creating well over a 100 000 jobs at their own operations and within their components supplier networks. 'Furthermore, it is estimated that the knock-on employment impact of these OEMs and components manufacturers results in over 500 000 formal jobs being created across the entire automotive supply chain. Around 40% of automotive employment in the country is located in the Eastern Cape,' She said. Van Huyssteen said it is essential that the government moves to strengthen trade relations with existing key markets such as Europe and Southeast Asia. 'This must be directed at retaining and growing mutually beneficial trade opportunities.' 'Negotiate' Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa told journalists that South Africa would use the week-long delay in implementing 30% tariffs to 'negotiate as strongly and as hard as we can' to avoid the penalty and save jobs. South Africa offered to import liquefied natural gas and some US agricultural products, the trade ministry said last week, It said South African firms have also committed to investing in US mining and metals-recycling industries and to pursuing joint investment in critical minerals, pharmaceuticals and agri-machinery. ALSO READ: Ramokgopa dismisses claims US tariffs target BEE policy but admits it needs 'tweaking'
IOL News
26-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
New water polo franchise series ready to churn up water as driver for change in sport
The South Africa Water Polo Winter Series, a new national franchise tournament, is set to bring the country's top competitors to Nelson Mandela Bay from August 8 to 10. Image: Chris van Lennep / Depositphoto Water polo's new national franchise tournament is set to make a splash after borrowing from the concept of SA20 cricket's draft system, and could also tap into the pool of rugby talent in SA. The inaugural event of the new Winter Series, sponsored by leading automation manufacturer Jendamark, will see 112 of the country's elite senior players drafted into four men's and four women's squads that are set to churn up the water of the Newton Park Indoor Pool in Gqeberha from August 8 to 10. Treading water The franchise system is designed to help level the playing field and offer an alternative to the regional dominance of Western Province and Gauteng teams in inter-provincial competition. It also marks the first national tournament run under the auspices of the newly formed South Africa Water Polo (SAWP), which has successfully challenged Swimming South Africa in court for the rights to promote the interests of this growing sport. Tournament director Siegfried Lokotsch, who also the title sponsor's director of operations, said adding a new franchise event to the national calendar would reinvigorate senior competition and extend the season beyond the traditional autumn finish. 'This franchise format creates a fresh dynamic that's both exciting to watch and allows players to compete strength for strength. Our sport is not going to get stronger if only the top provinces are getting stronger,' he said. Swimming coach Tyra Roozendaal puts participants in the Learn to Polo development programme, which is part of SAWP's plan to grow the sport, through their paces. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Leg up With the game gaining traction at top schools countrywide, Lokotsch said it was important to reignite competitive senior water polo, while also promoting grassroots development. Lokotsch said year-round development would be at the heart of SAWP's efforts, with the Nelson Mandela Bay region creating the blueprint of what this could look like. With the help of volunteers like Claudia Charles, a former water polo player whose eldest daughter, Jenna, now represents Eastern Province, the Learn to Polo development programme is introducing children in the northern areas and township schools to swimming and, ultimately, water polo. 'I'm so grateful to them for seeing the need to develop. Water polo has a rich history in the northern areas, and the Gelvandale pool played a big role in getting kids into the sport when I was at school. But with lack of infrastructure and systems support, it fell away,' said Charles. 'The idea is to identify and nurture emerging talent throughout the programme, and possibly get them into water polo-playing schools,' explained Lokotsch. Crossover opportunities 'There is so much rugby talent coming from under-resourced schools, and this is where we are missing a trick. I believe rugby players make the best water polo players, and vice versa. Some of our Springbok stars, like Malcolm Marx, were also great at polo. 'So, there's a real opportunity to unlock that untapped potential. We're best in the world at rugby, we could also be best in the world in the water.' Chapman High School teacher Shari Kemp said the Gelvandale-based school was happy to have been included in the after-school programme. 'It means a lot to the learners. They don't always have the opportunities or the resources. So, for them to be involved in such an amazing programme, with people who know so much about the sport, is a great learning opportunity. They're a bit nervous but excited to learn.' If successful, the new Winter Series format will be expanded to Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban next year.
