Showing posts with label Bravado. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bravado. Show all posts

Tuesday, 3 February 2026

Professional esports athletes must register for tax.

The law is clear - income from esports by professionals is taxable.

There is a specific inclusion in the gross income definition (the definition used as the starting point to determine an individual’s taxable income) which states that amounts received in relation to services rendered – even if it is a voluntary award – will be included in gross income and subject to tax.

Since a professional esports athletes would either be seen as an employee of, or as an an independent contractor, of the company for which he/she plays (see The basics about contracts for esports athletes) if such employee receives a reward related to his job function, it will be considered gross income as it is linked to services rendered.

Thus winning prize money in a competition if you are a professional esports athlete would  be seen by revenue authorities (SARS) as being related to a job function.
Whether the prize could be cash or otherwise, the prize will still be subject to tax.
If it is a non-cash prize, the monetary worth of that specific item will be included in gross income and subject to tax.
Thus it stands to reason that all companies paying prize monies to professional athletes, and/or to the companies  for which they play, must satisfy themselves that they are complying to SARS rules. The companies receiving such prize money (which often call themselves MGO's) running professional teams need to register with the revenue authorities in regard to declaring their winnings and the withholding of tax on their athletes.

Additional reading:
Athlete's rights:

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Friday, 16 January 2026

Procedure to be followed by private clubs affiliating for the 2026 season.

The 2025 Female Protea Team for the Mobile League of Legends Bang Bang esports title resplendent in the purple Protea shirts...

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is the national federation for Board games, Card games, Esports, Phygital games, and Wargames.

MSSA promotes all  the different disciplines equally, although each affiliated club may pick-and-choose which discipline it wishes to promote in its club. Some clubs will promote the whole gambit, while others will concentrate on only one discipline, and/or even just concentrate on one specific title.

The choice is ultimately up to the member club.

The various mind sports offer unique opportunities to many South Africans. Many South Africans have been able to earn Regional, Provincial, and National Colours which have allowed them to earn bursaries and obtain first-class educations.

MSSA has sent teams with full Protea Colours to international events since 1991 for wargames, 1996 for Morabaraba, 1997 for Checkers, and 2005 for Esports. 

All selected have found being part of the national team to be an education in itself.. 

All clubs must be legal bodies, as well as being non-profit organizations. Thus each club needs to have a founding document. Associations may use the draft constitution as provided below.

It is the club that is the member of MSSA, while the players are affiliated to the club.

Any applicant needs to be aware of the following:

In order to affiliate, the completed Application for affiliation Form must be submitted to the MSSA.

Once the Board has approved a club’s affiliation, the club then needs to complete the Google Registration Page allocated to the club for the players and make payment.

All club members may participate in all events for which it qualifies. Such events include meetings, championships, courses, and so forth. 

Advantages of having a MSSA affiliated club: 

There are many advantages of having a MSSA affiliated club, such as:
  1. Being part of a community where your club has a real say in how things are done
  2. Being able to apply for National Lottery Funding – MSSA member clubs can apply for up to R800,000.00 in funding
  3. Being able to get assistance from your local government
  4. Experience increased media exposure of your events and your gamers
  5. Become part of the international community through the MSSA Registered players are able to become internationally recognised umpires, etc.
  6. Enable your gamers to take part in MSSA events, which may qualify them for Regional, Provincial, and National colours, overseas trips, and even sports bursaries at university.
MSSA’s Constitution   

The Constitution forms the foundation of the MSSA. It guarantees members rights and governs the way that the MSSA operates. It can only be amended by a two-thirds majority at a Council Meeting. Please remember that Associations only have two (2) votes each, whereas member clubs have a representational vote, being: normal clubs: one vote per every five registered players, and school clubs: one vote per every ten registered players.

MSSA’s General Regulations   

The General Regulations comprises of decisions made by both Council and Executive Committee Meetings. The General Regulations deals with how sub-committees operate as well as to how teams are selected and development funding is distributed. Please refer to Schedule 10.12 in regard to the rights of clubs in hosting events.

MSSA’s Discipline Specific Regulations   

The Discipline Specific Regulations deal with rules concerning the different disciplines. The Disciplines that the MSSA caters for are; Board Gaming, Card gaming, Esports, and Figure Gaming.

Application for Affiliation form   

When a club applies for membership, the applicant club must complete such form and return the same to the MSSA.

Fee note for 2026

The fee note details the Affiliation Fees and Registration fees that are payable.

Player Registration Form   

The Player Registration Form needs to be completed by every player that is a member of a club and intends to participate in MSSA affairs.

MSSA’s Letter of Undertaking   

The Letter of Undertaking is for all registered players who sit on any MSSA committee.

Social Media

The MSSA makes use of the following:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindsportssa

Should you have any queries whatsoever, please contact mindsportscorrespondence@gmail.com.

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, 18 June 2025

Victoria cum audacia! - South Africa wins!

 

Marchahn 'march' Smith who captained the 2025 MSSA's Protea Esports Team for the Counter Strike 2 esports title to stunning victories over both Mauritius and Namibia.

On 18 June 2025 MSSA's Protea Esports Team for the Counter Strike 2 esports title took to the battlefield to defend South Africa's honour in AEC25. The AEC25 is the qualifying stage for IESF's WEC25 (World Esports Championships).

IESF had planned two matches for South Africa for the 18th of June 2025. The first match was against Mauritius at 17H00 and the second against Namibia at 19H00.

The bravado of the team was not misplaced. The team confidently settled in behind their computers and began their final preparations. 

In the first game against Mauritius, the Proteas dominated from start to finish. The Proteas won by:

  • 13 to 3, and 
  • 13 to 1.
It was a rout! The Mauritians were totally dominated and the Proteas romped home to a solid victory.

The Namibians fared no better!

Again the Proteas demolished their opponents to leave them in no doubt that the Proteas are the superior team. The Proteas won by:

  • 13 to 5, and
  • 13 to 1.
Of course it was a team effort, and the team operated like a well trained and disciplined unit. The 2025 men's Protea Esports Team for the Counter Strike 2 esports title consists of the following athletes:

NameClubNick
Marchahn Smith (Capt.)ZAG Academymarch
Wiljahne SmithZAG Academywilj
Kian GibsonZAG AcademyTriton
Johnathan FoxZAG AcademyDoru
Michael van der WaltZAG AcademyFROZ3N

Additional reading:

Other news: 

  • Western Cape - Table tennis rulebook now available in isiXhosa

Other African News:

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

AFRICAN REGIONAL PLAYOFFS START TODAY FOR MSSA

The 2024 men's Protea Esports Team for the Counter Strike 2 esports title being awarded their winnings.

2024 saw Mind Sports South Africa's (MSSA) Protea Esports Team achieve great results in Casablanca at IESF's AEC24. The AEC24 were IESF's qualifying championships for IESF's annual World Esports Championships which were known as WEC24. In the AEC24, the Female Protea Esports Team for the Counter Strike 2 esports title finished in first place while the men's Protea Esports Team for the Counter Strike 2 esports title finished in second place.As usual, MSSA entered its team into all the game titles offered, and in a number of test matches, MSSA's teams did very well and demonstrated the skill in South Africa.

South Africa begins its quest for IESF's WEC25 on 18 June 2025 when the male team take on Mauritius.

The athletes in 2025 men's Protea Esports Team for the Counter Strike 2 esports title is taking to the field for the first time as members of a Protea team in an African Esports Championships (AEC25). Nevertheless, MSSA is confident of their prowess, and the team shows more than bravado, it shows real determination and skill. 

It is unfortunate that this year IESF is doing the AEC25 as an online event instead of a face-to-face LAN event. Nevertheless the team, and all MSSA, are confident of the teams abilities and prospects.

The 2025 men's Protea Esports Team for the Counter Strike 2 esports title consists of the following athletes:

NameClubNick
Marchahn Smith (Capt.)ZAG Academymarch
Wiljahne SmithZAG Academywilj
Kian GibsonZAG AcademyTriton
Johnathan FoxZAG AcademyDoru
Michael van der WaltZAG AcademyFROZ3N

The schedule of matches to be played are:

SCHEDULE
DateTime (CEST)Versus
Counter Strike 218.06.202517:00Mauritius vs South Africa
Counter Strike 218.06.202519:00Namibia vs South Africa
Counter Strike 2 - Female21.06.202515:00Namibia vs South Africa
DotA 224.06.202520:00Madagascar vs South Africa
DotA 225.06.202520:00[S] Namibia vs South Africa
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang22.07.202519:00South Africa vs Namibia
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang22.07.202521:00South Africa vs Congo
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang - Female25.07.202521:00Namibia vs South Africa
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang - Female26.07.202514:00SA vs Madagascar or Mauritius
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang - Female26.07.202520:00Final for Southern Africa
PUBGM28.07.202517:00#Match 1
PUBGM28.07.202517:45#Match 2
PUBGM28.07.202518:30#Match 3
PUBGM28.07.202519:15#Match 4
PUBGM28.07.202520:00#Match 5
PUBGM28.07.202520:45#Match 6
PUBGM29.07.202517:00#Match 7
PUBGM29.07.202517:45#Match 8
PUBGM29.07.202518:30#Match 9
PUBGM29.07.202519:15#Match 10
PUBGM29.07.202520:00#Match 11
PUBGM29.07.202520:45#Match 12

The blocks highlighted in green are those which shall be streamed by IESF on: 

Additional reading:

Other news: 

  • Western Cape - Table tennis rulebook now available in isiXhosa

Other African News:

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)