Wednesday 28 February 2018

FIFA '18 - Registered Players who qualified at 'Gauteng' for National Team Trials.

Mqandisi Dewa of North West University - the 2018 Gauteng Champion.
Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) first introduced the esports title of FIFA in 2005, and such title has been included in every year since then. 

Five players in 
 MSSA's 36th Gauteng Provincial Championships all earned their berths in MSSA's 2018 National Team Trials.FIFA was played at IESF's 2009, 2010, and 2011 World Championships (TaebaekDaegu, and Andong), and MSSA sent players in all three years to represent South Africa. MSSA has too sent national teams to Windhoek, Namibia, as well as having competed online against Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Namibia.

The criteria to qualify for such trials all Registered Players that win a Regional Championship shall earn an invitation to National Team Trials.

Also, all Registered Players that score within the top 20% or top three places, whichever is greater, in a specific Period at a Provincial or National Championship shall earn an invitation to National Team Trials.

It should be remembered that members of the current Protea Squad automatically earn a berth at the National Team Trials (NTT) should they have met their obligations in terms of participation at MSSA events.

The learners that earned such an invite for the FIFA esports title are:



Name of playerClubPeriodProvince
Mqandisi DewaNorth West University - VaalFIFA '18Gauteng
Bongikosi LukheleAmplified RebellionFIFA '18Gauteng
Mpho NtsalaFakkel School of SkillsFIFA '18Free State
Khahliso MalapeFakkel School of SkillsFIFA '18Free State
Ru-Landie KilianAffies SasolburgFIFA '18Free State


Other Registered Players that have earned a berth at MSSA's 2018 National Team Trials (NTT) are:


DotA 2 - Registered Players who qualified at 'Gauteng' for National Team Trials.

Northcliff Educator - Noelene du Toit - awarding school awards to Northcliff esports players.
It is always nice to  see Northcliff High School do well in any event.
Northcliff High School affiliated to MSSA in 2009 and has been a very loyal member ever since.

The school has produced two members of previous Protea Teams (Robert Botha, and Ian Pillay)  and has always helped out whenever and wherever called upon to do so.



MSSA's 36th Gauteng Provincial Championships were hosted by Northcliff High School on 24 & 25 February 2018.

The Gauteng Provincial Championships have always been viewed as one of the most important championships leading up to MSSA's National Team Trials with the championships being the fourth last championship in which players may qualify for such Trials.

Five players in MSSA's 36th Gauteng Provincial Championships all earned their berths in MSSA's 2018 National Team Trials. 

The criteria to qualify for such trials all Registered Players that win a Regional Championship shall earn an invitation to National Team Trials.

Also, all Registered Players that score within the top 20% or top three places, whichever is greater, in a specific Period at a Provincial or National Championship shall earn an invitation to National Team Trials.

It should be remembered that members of the current Protea Squad automatically earn a berth at the National Team Trials (NTT) should they have met their obligations in terms of participation at MSSA events.

The learners that earned such an invite for the DotA 2 esports title are:



Name of playerSchoolPeriodProvince
Kit RawlingsNorthcliff High SchoolDotA 2Gauteng
Aiden VermeulenNorthcliff High SchoolDotA 2Gauteng
Brandon WattsNorthcliff High SchoolDotA 2Gauteng
Darren BouttellNorthcliff High SchoolDotA 2Gauteng
Landen ViljoenNorthcliff High SchoolDotA 2Gauteng


Other Registered Players that have earned a berth at MSSA's 2018 National Team Trials (NTT) are:



CounterStrike: GO - Registered Players who qualified at 'Gauteng' for National Team Trials.

Team 'RISINSons' of Helpmekaar Kollege - the 2018 Gauteng Champions.
MSSA's 36th Gauteng Provincial Championships were hosted by Northcliff High School on 24 & 25 February 2018.

The Gauteng Provincial Championships have always been viewed as one of the most important championships leading up to MSSA's National Team Trials with the championships being the fourth last championship in which players may qualify for such Trials.

Fifteen players in MSSA's 36th Gauteng Provincial Championships all earned their berths in MSSA's 2018 National Team Trials.CounterStrike: GO was played at IESF's 2016, and 2017 World Championships (Jakarta, and Busan), and MSSA sent players in both years to represent South Africa. MSSA has too competed online against Switzerland, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Morocco, and Algeria.

The criteria to qualify for such trials all Registered Players that win a Regional Championship shall earn an invitation to National Team Trials.

Also, all Registered Players that score within the top 20% or top three places, whichever is greater, in a specific Period at a Provincial or National Championship shall earn an invitation to National Team Trials.

It should be remembered that members of the current Protea Squad automatically earn a berth at the National Team Trials (NTT) should they have met their obligations in terms of participation at MSSA events.

The learners that earned such an invite for the CounterStrike: GO esports title are:



Name of playerClubPeriodProvince
Sean FlanaganHelpmekaar KollegeCounterStrike: GOGauteng
Keanu du plessisHelpmekaar KollegeCounterStrike: GOGauteng
Ockie van WykHelpmekaar KollegeCounterStrike: GOGauteng
Emile Prowse Helpmekaar KollegeCounterStrike: GOGauteng
Christiaan BotesHelpmekaar KollegeCounterStrike: GOGauteng
Cameron NagelTeam SidiousCounterStrike: GOGauteng
Justin NagelTeam SidiousCounterStrike: GOGauteng
Dennis jansen van VuurenTeam SidiousCounterStrike: GOGauteng
Johan NelTeam SidiousCounterStrike: GOGauteng
Branden DavidsTeam SidiousCounterStrike: GOGauteng
Matthew BothaNorthcliff High SchoolCounterStrike: GOGauteng
Darren BouttellNorthcliff High SchoolCounterStrike: GOGauteng
Luka EardleyNorthcliff High SchoolCounterStrike: GOGauteng
Jaryd SmithNorthcliff High SchoolCounterStrike: GOGauteng
Dylan BakerNorthcliff High SchoolCounterStrike: GOGauteng


Other Registered Players that have earned a berth at MSSA's 2018 National Team Trials (NTT) are:



Tuesday 27 February 2018

Colin Webster's testimony before the Zulman Commission of Inquiry.

Colin Webster at the Zulman Commission of Inquiry.
MSSA's General Secretary, Colin Webster, also appeared before the Zulman Commission of Inquiry which is investigating maladministration in SASCOC.

In his testimony, Colin Webster raised the following:
  • SASCOC as a Company and as a Voluntary Association
  • Unlawful payments by the NDLTF to the SASCOC (NPC's) bank account
  • Enabling activities by the then Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr Fikile Mbalula
  • The 'so-called' suspension of Mind Sports South Africa
  • Issues surrounding the Collins' Commission of which he was a member
  • The dissolution of the Legal and Arbitration Committee when it started to investigate one of its own members
  • Victimisation of those who spoke out against SASCOC
  • The attempt by SASCOC to silence him through the Adv. David Beasley tribunal
  • SASCOC's unlawful interference in the affairs of its members
Without doubt the most serious of all the allegations are those surrounding SASCOC as a Company and as a Voluntary Association.

SASCOC was registered on 26 November 2004 as a Non Profit Company (a Section 21 company under the old Act) under company number 2004/033949/08. The company remains registered and in business to this day according to CIPC.
The registered directors are:

SAMBASIVAN RAMSAMY - Director Active
MARK RANDALL ALEXANDER - Director Active
HAJERA KAJEE - Director Active
LESLIE DANIEL WILLIAMS - Director Active
REMEMBER RAYMOND MALI - Director Active
MARSHA MARESCIA - Director Active
AURELIA BONGEPHIWE MTHETHWA - Director Active
GIDEON NAPOLEON SAM - Director Active
LEHLOHONDLO JAMES LETUKA - Director Active
MUBARAK MAHOMED - Director Active
JAYSEELAN NAIDOO - Director Active

The Companies Act was amended in 2008, coming into effect on 1 May 2011, however,  certain clauses were not in full effect until 1 May 2013.

However, SASCOC took a decision to create a voluntary association under the same name.

It adopted a constitution in those terms on 26 September 2015.

SASCOC purported to ‘convert’ itself from a company to a voluntary association via this process, which was obtained via resolution passed by the members of the company at a meeting of a company.
It must be noted that there is no provision in the Companies Act 71 of 2008 for a company to ‘convert’ to any other legal entity. The Co-operative Act 14 of 2005 permits a company to convert to a Co-operative, but under that Act subject to stringent requirements.

Accordingly, what SASCOC attempted to do in 2015 was not possible in law. 

All that was achieved was to create a second legal entity so that SASCOC is now a company and a voluntary association.
The consequences of this are the following:
  • SASCOC has publically (and according to all notifications to its members) ceased to carry on its operations under the banner of the company.
  • Accordingly, SASCOC has ‘transferred’ staff, assets, bank accounts, contract, etc, from the company to the voluntary association without any legal grounds for doing so.
  • The directors of SASCOC NPC (listed above) have effectively assets-stripped the company in favour of the voluntary association, despite their fiduciary duties to the company as directors.
  • SASCOC, the NPC, is the legal entity recognised as by the Minister of Sport in terms of the National Sport and Recreation Act. The Minister has not terminated that recognition and recognised the voluntary association in its place. Accordingly, the voluntary association is acting illegally by purporting to act as the Sports Confederation in terms of the National Sport and Recreation Act.
  • SASCOC NPC is also the body which was affiliated to the IOC and several other international bodies, although the voluntary association has taken over that affiliation without reapplying afresh.
  • SASCOC NPC is further the body registered with SARS for tax. The voluntary association could not just take over that registration or exemption as a Public Benefit Organisation.
The full impact of SASCOC’s conduct of purporting to ‘convert’ to a voluntary association is that the rules of governance have changed dramatically. This is best explained as follows:
In terms of the Companies Act, the company does not have special powers vis-Ć -vis its members (it is impossible to think of Anglo-American taking over one of its shareholders if it is unhappy with that shareholder). The rules of governance are geared towards the members holding the board of directors of the company accountable, and not the board of directors hold the company accountable.

Schedule 1 of the Companies Act has rules relating to Non Profit Companies. The ones which impacted SASCOC the most were that:
  • One third of the board of directors have to be replaced each year. SASCOC has never complied with this provision.
  • Membership can only be voting or non-voting – it is not possible to have differently weighted votes.
  • Ex officio membership is not permitted. So a board member cannot become a member by virtue alone of being a board member. This means that board members (unless they have other rights in their personal capacities) do not have the right to vote as such at SASCOC members’ meetings.

SASCOC could provide for how membership could (or would) be lost. However, it would be in conflict with many provisions of the Companies Act for SASCOC to take over a member (or place it under administration, as SASCOC terms it).

Accordingly, all acts committed before September 2015 in which SASCOC purported to interfere directly (as opposed to suspending or terminating membership) in the affairs of its members was in conflict with the Companies Act and therefore invalid and unlawful. (The SASCOC Articles/Constitution or MOI, whatever term it uses, cannot trump the Companies Act. Section 5 of the Act provides for the situations where the Companies Act will not automatically prevail, and nowhere is SASCOC mentioned.)

By purporting to ‘convert’ to a voluntary association SASCOC has attempted to avoid the governance provisions of the Companies Act and rather resort to the rather looser basis of a voluntary association (purportedly based in contract). The reasoning being that the members of SASCOC can agree to SASCOC interfering in their affairs by agreeing to it in a constitution. Accordingly, any member of the SASCOC voluntary association is subject to its constitution and to any action taken against then by SASCOC when it is acting as the voluntary association. However, members who did not agree to join the voluntary association are protected by the Companies Act, and all members who were interfered with prior to 2015 would have a claim against the directors and senior management of SASCOC for any harm caused.

The directors of SASCOC NPC have been derelict in their duties by permitting the asset stripping of the company in favour of the voluntary association. Further, in so far as they violated the rights of any members in breach of the provisions of the Companies Act, they have been delinquent.

The directors have also failed to hold meetings of the company since 2015, and have not continued to produce financial statements of the company or fulfil their other functions as directors. On these grounds they should be reported to the Companies Tribunal to take action against them in their personal capacities.

2018 Gauteng Sportsmanship Award goes to...

Kit Rawlings of Northcliff High School.
At every Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) Regional, Provincial, and National LAN Championship, the umpires decide on who shall receive the sportsmanship award. At the end of the year, the winners of such awards are then considered to see who is the winner of the annual Sportsmanship Award (Dorian Love Trophy) as awarded at MSSA's Annual General Meeting.

Some years it is easy, and other years it is extremely hard to determine who should receive the award.

MSSA's 2018 Gauteng Championships gave the umpires an almost near impossible task.

There were just so many Registered Players from which to choose.

Nevertheless, the umpires applied their minds and went through the many names, until, eventually, there was only one.

The name remaining was that of Kit Rawlings of Northcliff High School.

Thus the umpires, with one voice, unanimously agreed to award Kit Rawlings the 2018 Gauteng Sportsmanship Award.

There is no doubt that Kit represents all that is good in competition. His kind, generous, and courteous demeanour never wavered throughout the competition.


Kit remains an asset to his family, school, and esports.

Results of MSSA's 36th Gauteng Provincial Championships - 24 & 25 February 2018

Ru-landie Killian (left) from Affies Sasolburg in action in MSSA's 36th Gauteng Provincial Championships.
It is hard to believe that MSSA started running its Gauteng Provincial Championships only 36 years ago.

The Gauteng Provincial Championships have always been viewed as one of the most important championships leading up to MSSA's National Team Trials with the championships being the fourth last championship in which players may qualify for such Trials.

MSSA's 36th Gauteng Provincial Championships were more than ably hosted by Northcliff High School. The learners at the school showed sportsmanship of the highest order, and were kind and courteous to all the officials and players alike. 

It was pleasing to see that the championship attracted players from the Free State, Gauteng, North West,  and Limpopo, although the most inspiring aspect of the championships was the number of school teams that participated.

The number of school teams that participated, re-inforces MSSA's belief that in promoting school teams the various development gals are more effectively reached.

Out of a total of 17 premier titles, 13 of such were won by learners.

The senior teams had to fight long and hard against the much improved school teams that challenged the senior teams at every turn as they fought for a place in the 2018 National Team Trials that will ultimately deliver a team to the IESF's 2018 10th Esports World Championships.

Special mention must be made of Fakkel School of Skills, St. Stithian's College, Affies Sasolburg, JCS Academy, and Northcliff High School. Such schools showed that they could take on the best, and delivered sterling results.

The improved depth in the standard of play bodes well for the future of all of South African gaming.

The winners of MSSA's 36th Gauteng Provincial Championships are:


Title Name of player/team Club Colours awarded
Ancients (DBM) Colin Webster Old Edwardian Mind Sports Club Gauteng
Checkers Pheello Maphumane Fakkel School of Skills
Tshepo Matitwane Fakkel School of Skills
Sam Mathlong North West University – Vaal
Counterstrike: GO RISINSons Helpmekaar Gauteng
CounterStrike: GO (High School) G3NTS Northcliff High School
DotA 2 PR0NHS Northcliff High School Gauteng
FIFA '18 (female) Ru-landie Killian Affies Sasolburg
FIFA '18 Mqandisi Dewa North West University - Vaal
FIFA '18 (High School) Khahliso Malape Fakkel School of Skills
Hearthstone (female) Linda Swanepoel Fakkel School of Skills Free State
Hearthstone Gawie Fick Fakkel School of Skills
Hearthstone (High school) Kevin Plint Northcliff High School Gauteng
League of Legends ST St Stithians Gauteng
League of Legends (High School) STS1 St Stithians
Morabaraba – Female Anne-Lee Steyn JCS Academy Free State
Morabaraba Joseph Matlong North West University – Vaal
Morabaraba – High School Sam Kotsoane Fakkel School of Skills
PES 2018 (female) Ru-landie Killian Affies Sasolburg Free State
PES 2018 Gordon Mcormack Masters of Mind Sports Free State
Rocket League PR0NHS Northcliff High School Gauteng
StarCraft II Aidan Smale ZAG Gauteng
Street Fighter V (female) Leone Loftus Fakkel School of Skills Free State
Street Fighter V (High School – females) Cindy-Lee Strydom Fakkel School of Skills
Street Fighter V Lebogang Phoshoko Cape Town Mind Sports Club Gauteng
Street Fighter V (High School – boys) Sean Skolkali Northcliff High School
Tekken 7 Jeremy Seremak HTS Sasolburg Gauteng
Tekken7 (High School) Pieter Oelofse HTS Sasolburg
Photographs of the event may be viewed on: https://www.facebook.com/pg/mindsportssa/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10157086776834008