14-05-2025
Swimming SA, private body in court in fight for the soul of local water polo
A private organisation wanting to uplift water polo has told the Cape Town high court that Swimming South Africa (SSA) has failed to advance the sport locally, especially 'at an elite level'.
SSA, the national federation responsible for the aquatics disciplines of swimming, water polo, diving and artistic swimming, is seeking an interdict against the freshly-launched South Africa Water Polo (SAWP), a nonprofit company.
SSA's action, in which 14 respondents have been named, is being heard on Wednesday.
In heads of argument SSA is accusing SAWP, the first respondent, of trying to usurp its functions and of interfering in the running of the sport.
It says its status as the only national aquatics authority is recognised by the National Sport and Recreation Act, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) and the international governing body, World Aquatics.
SSA also cited a legal precedent to bolster its argument that only a single federation could run a sport in the country. '[SSA] is the only national federation for the sport of swimming recognised both locally ... as well as internationally.'
