Another school affiliates.

PEPPS Preparatory School and College

There is not a month that goes by that Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) does not have new clubs apply for, and be accepted into, membership.

According to their web-page, PEPPSPreparatory School and College stands for the Project for the Establishment of Primary and Pre-Primary Schools. PEPPS was founded by Patrick Hamilton, previously the Headmaster of WHPS Preparatory School in Pretoria. The original vision of PEPPS was to establish multi-racial, affordable, private schools which offered quality education. In 1990 parents from the then Pietersburg, having heard of the Project which had already established schools in Edenvale and Atteridgeville, approached Patrick Hamilton to open a PEPPS in town. PEPPS Polokwane was established in 1991 in a house in Koppiefontein. In 1992 the school moved to its present site in Myngenoegen; 9 hectares of naturally beautiful ground with over one hundred indigenous trees.  In 1994 growing demand lead to the extension of the Preparatory School to Grade 9 and in 1996 the school was further extended to Grade 12.

However, the affiliation of PEPPS means that there are now four member clubs in Polokwane. 

This is a huge improvement over 2016 where there was not a single club in the Limpopo Province.

Such affiliation also indicates the changing attitudes towards esports, for even though esports was accepted as a sport in 2005 in South Africa (through MSSA's efforts), huge barriers still had to be overcome as some parents and school governing bodies remained cautious of this new sport.

It is thanks to the progressive schools that are now members that esports has turned the corner and, in my opinion, that the next steps can be taken in getting esports into the Olympics.
MSSA wishes PEPPSPreparatory School and College a long and fruitful association.

eSports and the IOC

Team Italia in action at IeSF's 8th World Championships - Jakarta

Of late there have been many people in South Africa talking about esports becoming affiliated to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Such statements are normally just a  rehash of statements that have been made by others.

It is important for all gamers to fully understand the real process.

If esports is to be accepted as a sport within the IOC's structure, the IOC shall accept the international body as a member.

Once accepted, the international body then, with the approval of the IOC, chooses the events to be played.

Such decisions are then relayed down to the member federations.