Wednesday, 29 January 2025

MSSA events that count for National Team Trials for 17th IESF World Championships (WEC25)

Aiden Vorster, member of MSSA's Protea Counter Strike 2 Esports Team which finished in second place in IESF's AEC24 in Casablanca.

With IESF's WEC25 fast approaching, Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is hard at work getting everything ready to select its teams and e sports athletes ready to take on the world.

But who can participate?

Registered Players qualify for National Team Trials (NTT) in MSSA events that have been held for one Calendar Year before the National Team Trials are held.

Thus, for the 2025 NTT to select the team for IESF's WEC25, the following events count:

  • 6 April 2024 - 4th Provincial Online Student Championships
  • 13 April 2024 - 14th Provincial Online Championships
  • 27 April 2024 - Provincial School Championships for all provinces
  • 4 May 2024 - Online Provincial Championships
  • 18 May 2024 - 5th GAUTENG Online Championships
  • 13 July 2024 - SA School Championships
  • 27 July 2024 - 5th KWAZULU NATAL Online Championships
  • 3 August 2024 - 5th FREE STATE Online Championships
  • 21 September 2024 - 4th LIMPOPO Online Championships
  • 12 October 2024 - 5th NORTH WEST Online Championships
  • 7 December 2024 - 4th Online SA NATIONAL Championships
  • 25 January 2025 - NORTHERN CAPE Online Championships
Still to be played:
  • 15 February 2025 - 13th Online Inter-school Provincial Championships
  • 22 February 2025 - 6th WESTERN CAPE Online Championships
  • 8 March 2025 - 6th GAUTENG Online Championships
  • 15 March 2025 - National Team Trials for 17th IESF World Championships

To participate in MSSA's National Team Trials (NTT), the rules are the same as per many years:

  1. If being of the age of majority and have received Protea and/or, National Federation, and/or Provincial Colours in the previous year, shall have successfully completed an Umpires’ Course (if such course was held in the province in which such player resides after the date of being awarded such colours), and
  2. Have been awarded Protea and/or National Federation Colours in the previous year, or
  3. Have participated in MSSA events where such player shall have won a Regional Championship in such period/genre, or have finished in the top 20% or top three places, whichever is greater, at any official Provincial Championships for such period/genre, or have finished in the top 20% or top three places, whichever is greater, at the SA School National Championships for such period/genre, and be fully-paid-up members of an affiliated Member, and be ranked in the top ten of the Ladder for such period/genre.
Additional reading:

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Tuesday, 28 January 2025

6th WESTERN CAPE Online Championships - 22 February 2025

With Neisha (Rose) Khan, captain of BellaTrixes, having won the SA National championships in December 2024, and the Northern Cape Online Championships in January 2025, all eyes are on this dynamic team to see whether they can once again win in the Western Cape Online championships in February 2025.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has entered IESF's 17th World Championships (WEC25) in the following esports titles: 

  • Counter-Strike 2 (open)
  • Counter-Strike 2 (female)
  • DOTA 2 (open) 
  • eFootball (Open) 
  • Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (open)
  • Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (female)
  • PUBG mobile (open)

With MSSA's National Team Trials, in which a team will be selected for WEC25 (and its qualifiers, the African Esports Championships, - AEC25), MSSA's 6th Western Cape Online Esports Provincial Championships to be held on 25 January 2025 offers all esports athletes another chance in 2025 to qualify for National Team Trials.

Thus the hunt is on for the 2025 National Protea Esports Teams. 

To have a chance to qualify for selection, players must be members of an affiliated club and qualify for National Team Trials at a MSSA event.

In order to participate, players must be registered for the 2024/2025 season.

The championship shall be held on 22 February 2025.

Game titles to be played are:


Period/genreTitlePlatformAge restrictionPlayers
Shooter
CS 2PC165 v 5
PUBGMMobile181 v 1
Sport
EA SPORTS™ FC 25Console121 v 1
eFootballConsole121 v 1
Rocket LeaguePC121 v 1 and 3 v 3
MOBA
Clash of ClansMobile121 v1
Clash RoyaleMobile121 v 1
DotA 2PC125 v 5
Mobile Legends Bang BangMobile125 v 5
Fighting
Tekken 8Console161 v 1
Street Fighter 6Console121 v 1

Players are to acquaint themselves with the rules apropos substitutes and loadshedding.

Tournament Structure:


As per the MSSA's rules, being:

  • If less than six teams, the championship shall be a Round Robin Championship
  • If 6 to 10 teams enter the championship there shall be four rounds as played to the Swiss System
  • If 11 or more teams enter the championship there shall be five rounds as played to the Swiss System

Eligibility:

  • Any team consisting of players who are Registered Players affiliated to a MSSA member club may enter.

Entries:

  • Entry is R100.00 per Registered Player.
  • Only fully-paid-up Registered Players may participate in this event.
  • Entries must be submitted by midnight 21 February 2024
  • To enter, the club must complete the Google Drive document. 
  • The entry form may be found on Google Drive. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_ERR6815uVjSMu4t5KkRxYqGJ_AA88kkz31qRgksASc/edit#gid=287696184
  • Clubs are to download the entry form, completed the downloaded form, and e-mail it to Mind Sports South Africa. 
  • Photographs of players must accompany the entry.
  • Only entries submitted via email and on Excel shall be accepted.

Medals:


Medals shall be handed over to winners at the next MSSA LAN that they attend. 


      MALE:

  • PREMIER: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams.
  • UNDER 24: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams that have not won a Premier medal and which are comprised entirely of students currently registered at any officially recognized University.
  • SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams of learners currently registered at any officially recognized school, provided they have not received any Premier medals. 
        FEMALE:
  • PREMIER: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams.
  • UNDER 24: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams that have not won a Premier medal and which are comprised entirely of students currently registered at any officially recognized University.
  • SCHOLARS: Medals shall be awarded to the first three teams of learners currently registered at any officially recognized school, provided they have not received any Premier medals.

Colours:

  • Protea Colours: Only Players that are selected to represent South Africa in International Championships may earn National Colours if the Protea Colours Board's criteria are met.
  • National Colours: All Players that win all of their Matches at a National Championship will earn National Colours.
  • Provincial Colours: All Players that win all of their Matches at a Provincial Championship will earn Provincial Colours. All Players who score within the top 50% in a specific Period at a Provincial Championship, and who also score within the top 50% at a National Championship in the same period and in the same year, will earn Provincial Colours.

        General:

        • The championship shall be played on: 22 February 2025.
        • The first round will start at 10H00. Players shall be given 60 minutes to complete each round.
        • Players playing 3 v 3 Rocket League shall be given 1.5 hours to complete the round.
        • The championship is accredited as being of the same status as a provincial championship. 
        • The championship shall be used for the awarding of provincial colours;
        • The championship shall be used for the awarding of medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in Premier, Under 24, and School categories;
        • The championship shall be used for the ability to qualify for National Team Squad.
        • All medals shall be awarded to the recipients at a MSSA LAN championships.

        Umpires:

        • Umpires may only be contacted over Discord on the day of competition. Any communication not on the Discord channel shall not be entered into.

        Ladder:

        • All games shall count towards the National Ladder.

        Shout casting:


        Additional reading:

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        Privacy. Who is looking after the children?

         

        As we celebrate International Privacy Day on 28 January 2025, we are called to look inward and ask how the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (“POPIA“) has impacted South African society. But more so, has POPIA introduced greater protection for our children?

        The world children live in is dominated by social network services and wearables, bringing about the “datafication” of almost every dimension of their lives.[1]

        POPIA was enacted on 1 July 2020. It can be seen as legislation crafted to regulate the use and disclosure of personal information, among others. During 2020 and beyond, people were bombarded with policy updates but more so requests for consent to use their personal information. But when should a child be allowed to consent to using their information? More so, at what age should children be allowed to use online services? These questions are important to consider in a time when cyberbullying is rife, harassment is ever-present, and society is confronted with an uptick in child pornography.

        To understand the full complexity of children’s privacy online, we need to distinguish between interpersonal privacy, meaning how my “data self” is created, accessed and multiplied via online social connections. Institutional privacy means that our public entities, such as the government, educational institutions, and health institutions, gather and handle data. Finally, commercial privacy, i.e. how personal information is harvested and used for business purposes[2]. It cannot be denied that there is a growing concern about people’s loss of control over their personal information, the understanding of what is public or private in the digital environment, and the number of infringements of privacy resulting from criminal activities[3].

        The importance of children in technological advancement is undeniable for various reasons.  Children are often the pioneers in exploring and experimenting with new digital devices, services and content. Also, children have a less critical understanding of present and future risks to their well-being posed by using the digital environment. This means that they will engage more freely within this sphere. The question would, however, be whether children’s rights are recognised or provided for within this digital world and technological advancement.

        The UNICEF Report on Children’s Online Privacy and Freedom of Expression[4] distinguishes several dimensions of privacy affected by digital technologies, i.e., physical, communication, information, and decisional privacy. Per the Report, physical privacy is violated when tracking, monitoring, or live broadcasting technologies can reveal a child’s image, activities or location. Threats to communication privacy relate to access to unintended recipients’ posts, chats and messages. The violation of information privacy can also occur with the collection, storage and processing of children’s data, primarily if it occurs without their understanding or consent. Lastly, disruptions of decisional privacy are associated with restricting access to useful information, which can limit children’s independent decision-making. This paints a complex picture and a paradox conundrum interpreting the position of children and consent.

        There is no doubt that the digital world is “data-intensive, hyperconnected and commercial“[5] and that an increasing amount of data, including personal information, is collected about online users, including children. The types of personal information available in the digital world impact various dimensions of privacy. Individuals about themselves or others contribute personal information, almost always knowingly, during online participation. But there is also personal information “left“, mostly unknowingly by participation online. This personal information is captured by data tracking technologies such as cookies, web beacons or device browsers, fingerprinting, location data, and other metadata. This leads to inferred data being the data derived from analysing data given and data traces, often by algorithms, referred to as profiling, possibly combined with other data sources.[6]. Indeed, not all data types are personal information relating to an identified or identifiable individual. But it does introduce the concept of invasiveness. It also raises the question of when children consider privacy online, whether children think primarily about their privacy and the data they or others share about them online. Also, how knowledgeable are they about the data traces they leave, and how can these be used to profile them?

        In a digital age in which children’s communication and actions are tracked and recorded, it cannot be denied that privacy protection is vital and in their best interest. The question is, how will it play out in South Africa?

        As we digitise, we must remember that children should not be mere data points; they deserve privacy and autonomy, especially in an environment that is watching their every click.

        [1] Livingstone,S (2028) Children: a special case for privacy? Intermedia, 46 (2) p 18 

        [2] Livingstone, S. Stoilova, M. and Nandagiri, R. (2019) Children’s data and privacy online: Growing up in a digital age. An evidence review. London: London School of Economics and Political Science p 3.

        [3] Livingstone, S. Stoilova, M. and Nandagiri, R. (2019) Children’s data and privacy online: Growing up in a digital age. An evidence review. London: London School of Economics and Political Science p 6.

        [4] 2018

        [5] Van der Hof , S I agree, or do I? A rights-based analysis of the law on children’s consent in the digital world. Wisconsin International Law Journal 34(2) 412

        [6] Livingstone, S. Stoilova, M. and Nandagiri, R. (2019) Children’s data and privacy online: Growing up in a digital age. An evidence review. London: London School of Economics and Political Science p 16.


        Ahmore Burger-Smidt

        Head of Regulatory

           Johannesburg

           +27 11 535 8462

           +27 11 535 8762

           aburgersmidt@werksmans.com

        Ahmore Burger-Smidt is a preeminent competition law and data privacy (cybersecurity) and regulatory lawyer in South Africa. She has been involved in the field of competition law since the inception of the new South African Competition Act. She played a leading role in the drafting of the Competition Commission and Competition Tribunal’s rules and the development of competition law jurisprudence in South Africa through her involvement in a number of high-profile mergers, exemptions and behavioural / litigation matters. Ahmore also served as Competition Commission’s Head of Enforcement and Exemption Division as well as Deputy Commissioner.

        She has experience across a wide range of sectors including automotive, construction, freight, information technology, insurance, mining, pharmaceuticals, property, steel, sugar, telecommunications, transport, agri-business, banking, beverages, chemicals, construction, FMCG, gambling, healthcare, printing, private equity and retail. Ahmore has vast experience in managing the South African aspects of multi-jurisdictional mergers.

        Ahmore is the Head of the Regulatory Practice group at Werksmans Attorneys.

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        Monday, 27 January 2025

        Types of esports events run by MSSA.

        Esports athletes at a MSSA LAN

        There is no other esports organization in the world that does as many types of championships for its members.

        Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) works extremely hard in trying to develop its players so that the players may represent South Africa with pride.

        It is through such hard work that South Africa is able to deliver Protea Esports teams on a consistent basis to international events  Being so ranked is no mean feat, and MSSA is determined to get even higher up the international esports rankings.

        Ever since 2009, MSSA has proudly competed in IESF World Esports Championships. However, to continue to do so l        ocal development plays a crucial role in promoting international competitiveness, and there are several key reasons why focusing on local development is important for global positioning:

        1. Enhancing Innovation: Local development encourages clubs and athletes to innovate, streamline processes, and improve standards. 

        2. Building a Skilled player base: Local development often focuses on education, skills training, and capacity building. A well-educated and skilled player base is critical in order to compete globally. 

        3. Cultural and Global Adaptation: Local development allows clubs and athletes to adapt their cultural and practices to global trends. 

        4. Sustainability and Long-term Growth: By investing in local development, National Federations ensure that their growth is sustainable. This, in turn, ensures that they have the resources and capacity to continue competing internationally. Economic resilience at the local level strengthens the global position over time.

        5. Global Branding and Recognition: Strong local development can help a National Federation build its global brand. As local athletes gain recognition for quality, innovation, or reliability, they attract international interest, boosting the reputation of both the local esports scene and the nation.

        In short, local development provides the building blocks for broader international competitiveness. By strengthening local economies, communities, and industries, regions are better equipped to scale globally, enhancing their ability to compete on the world stage.

        Thus the school events remain MSSA's foundation as without a comprehensive policy at school level, the standard of South African gaming will never improve.

        MSSA thus runs the following types of events for esports:

        Type of eventLevelEligibility
        School
        		Provincial LANAny gamer who attends a school affiliated to the MSSA
        Provincial OnlineAny gamer who attends a school affiliated to the MSSA
        National LANAny gamer who attends a school affiliated to the MSSA
        National OnlineAny gamer who attends a school affiliated to the MSSA
        Inter-school online championshipsSchools that are affiliated to the MSSA
        Inter-school LadderSchools that are affiliated to the MSSA
        Student
        		Online ChampionshipsAny gamer who attends a tertiary educational institution affiliated to the MSSA
        Provincial LANAny gamer who attends a tertiary educational institution affiliated to the MSSA
        Provincial OnlineAny gamer who attends a tertiary educational institution affiliated to the MSSA
        Regional
        		Regional LANAny gamer who is registered with an affiliated member club
        Inter- regional test matchesOfficial Regional Teams.
        Provincial
        		Provincial LANAny gamer who is registered with an affiliated member club
        Provincial Online ChampionshipsAny gamer who is registered with an affiliated member club
        Provincial Online LadderAny gamer who is registered with an affiliated member club
        Inter- provincial test matchesOfficial Regional Teams.
        National
        		National LANAny gamer who is registered with an affiliated member club
        National OnlineAny gamer who is registered with an affiliated member club
        National Online LadderAny gamer who is registered with an affiliated member club
        National Team TrialsLAN/OnlineBy invitation only as per the Regulations. Only official MSSA events count as qualifying events
        World ChampionshipsInternationalProtea Team only
        International Test MatchesInternationalProtea Team only

        Additional reading:
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