Johannesburg have secured a record-setting fourth consecutive Spar National Netball Championships title after an exhilarating 52-51 victory over Cape Town on Finals Day at the Spar National Netball Champs, at Dr EG Jansen High School in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday, 6 December 2025.
There was a massive sense of relief for coach – and former Proteas captain – Dr Elsjé Jordaan after what’s been a tough week, starting with a loss to the same Cape Town side in their opening match on Monday, followed by a draw with Mangaung the following day.
But her team pulled through in impressive fashion, holding their nerve in a nail-biting final quarter to clinch the win.
“I actually have no words, I’m so proud, the growth over the week is just amazing… There was so much pressure on us with all the JNA [Johannesburg Netball Association] teams performing so well, we couldn’t let them down.”
Johannesburg Head Coach, Dr Elsjé Jordaan
Unlike their semifinal a day earlier, the Johannesburg side produced a strong opening quarter, using their speed to power to a 16-10 lead by the first break.
The Capetonians slowed things right down in the second quarter, however, enabling them to close the gap with five unanswered goals and edge ahead by one by half-time. Joburg regained their composure in the second half and by the final quarter had built a five-goal cushion. But a few errors right at the death allowed Cape Town back in it, equalising with less than a minute left on the clock.
With the centre pass still in Joburg’s hands, they kept their cool under immense pressure to sink the final goal and edge in front again with no time left for Cape Town to come back, prompting elated singing and dancing on court.
Thrilled Johannesburg captain Tinita van Dyk was proud of how her team had improved throughout the week.
“Our tournament started really difficult. I think it was good that we struggled so much on the first day. That forced us to really go back to the drawing board and see what we had to improve on. I think it was good that we didn’t have it easy.”
Johannesburg Captain, Tinita van Dyk
As for the final itself, Van Dyk added: “It was a massive fight from the team… It was a much better start than yesterday. Very relieved about the start that we had. I think that gave the whole team a bit of confidence to know that we were in it. We just needed to play our own netball in our own time until the end, and I think that’s what helped us in the end.”
Cape Town and Spar Proteas goal attack Nicholé Breedt was equally proud of her team, who remained unbeaten all week until the final.
“I actually said at the beginning of the tournament that the team that’s going to win at the end of the day is the team that’s going to make the least amount of mistakes. And unfortunately… we were the ones letting ourselves down. It was nothing else,” she said.
“I think every small error we made, they really capitalised on, and I must give it to them. They worked really hard today from beginning to end. They came at us very strong and they ended strong.
“But I think we’ve grown a lot throughout the week, and I’m very proud of who we are, not only as players, but people as well, and what we’ve shown towards the end of the tournament. And I think we’ve got a lot of growing to do for tournaments to come, so I’m excited what we’re still going to bring. So hard luck for us today, but we’re not done,” added Breedt.
Meanwhile, in the other senior playoff match of the day, Mangaung beat the Dr Kenneth Kaunda team 54-53 in another thriller to secure third place.
In the under-21 A section, defending champions Johannesburg headed into the final against the Dr Kenneth Kaunda side from the North West as clear favourites after cruising through the week unbeaten.
They duly delivered, racing into a 12-5 lead by the end of the first quarter. They were 26-13 up by half-time and while they dropped off slightly in the second half, there was no stopping them from wrapping up a comfortable 44-33 victory.
The Johannesburg side are coached by former Proteas captain Bongi Msomi, who admitted afterwards she actually prefers coaching to playing.
As for leading the side to back-to-back wins after they had failed to win a single match in 2023, Msomi reckoned: “It feels really good. It’s funny how we talk about being an underdog one year, then the next year you’re actually a threat.
“We’re doing really well as a district, but the challenge is to maintain this, because it obviously doesn’t just come. It’s a lot of work behind the scenes… I’m so, so proud and I really hope even if it’s me or someone else, we can continue this journey with Johannesburg Netball, because it also builds up for what’s happening at national level.”
As the curtain came down on another successful championship, newly elected president of Netball South Africa Mami Diale hailed the importance of the event.
“The Spar National Netball Championships remains one of the most important pillars of our netball development system,” said Diale. “It brings together talent from every province, creates opportunities for young players to be seen, and strengthens the pathways into high-performance environments, the Telkom Netball League, and ultimately, the national team.”
“To our headline sponsor Spar, thank you for your unwavering commitment to women’s sport and community development. Your partnership continues to change lives and uplift netball at every level. We also extend our appreciation to Telkom and all supporting sponsors who make these championships possible.”
Senior A Section Results on Saturday, 6 December, 2025
Final: Johannesburg 52 – 51 Cape Town
3rd/4th Place Playoff: Mangaung 54 – 53 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Senior A Section Player Awards
Best Shooter: Sian Moore (Cape Town)
Best Midcourt Player: Sanelisiwe Ntomi (Johannesburg)
Best Defender: Thulisile Maduna (eThekwini)
Player of the Tournament: Amber Coraesen (Cape Town)
Under-21 A Section
Final: Johannesburg 44 – 33 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
3rd/4th Place Playoff: Tshwane 41 – 37 Cape Town
Under-21 Player Awards
Best Shooter: Giada Prinsloo (Johannesburg)
Best Midcourt Player: Naledi Nakoa (Tshwane)
Best Defender: Eloné Dippenaar (Cape Town)
Player of the Tournament: Boitumelo Mokoena (Johannesburg)
Results on Friday, 5 December 2025
Nelson Mandela Bay 37 – 64 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
eThekwini 33 – 44 Mangaung
5th/6th playoff: Tshwane 42 – 38 eThekwini
7th/8th playoff: Cape Winelands 36 – 50 Nelson Mandela Bay
SF1: Cape Town 57 – 51 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
SF2: Johannesburg 46 – 45 Mangaung
Under-21 A Section
Johannesburg 46 – 32 Tshwane
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 44 – 39 Cape Town
Results on Thursday, 4 December 2025
Cape Town 49 – 34 Tshwane
Cape Winelands 40 – 70 Mangaung
Johannesburg 51 – 46 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Nelson Mandela Bay 46 – 49 eThekwini
Mangaung 51 – 54 Cape Town
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 61 – 34 Cape Winelands
Tshwane 40 – 44 Johannesburg
Under-21 A Section
Tshwane 31 – 39 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Cape Town 29 – 50 Johannesburg
Ekurhuleni 55 – 29 eThekwini
Results on Wednesday, 3 December 2025
Mangaung 63 – 30 Nelson Mandela Bay
Tshwane 47 – 51 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Cape Town 71 – 38 eThekwini
Johannesburg 71 – 38 Cape Winelands
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 45 – 48 Botswana
Nelson Mandela Bay 56 – 60 Cape Town
Mangaung 43 – 46 Tshwane
eThekwini 47 – 54 Johannesburg
Under-21 A Section
Tshwane 37 – 35 Cape Town
Ekurhuleni 25 – 67 Johannesburg
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 62 – 24 eThekwini
Cape Town 55 – 28 Ekurhuleni
eThekwini 32 – 58 Tshwane
Johannesburg 48 – 42 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Results on Tuesday, 2 December 2025
Cape Town 67 – 37 Cape Winelands
Tshwane 37 – 41 eThekwini
Johannesburg 44 – 44 Mangaung
Cape Winelands 47 – 46 Nelson Mandela Bay
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 51 – 62 Cape Town
Tshwane 35 – 42 Botswana
Nelson Mandela Bay 37 – 53 Johannesburg
Mangaung 57 – 54 Botswana
eThekwini 32 – 58 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Under-21 A Section
Cape Town 48 – 30 eThekwini
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 52 – 29 Ekurhuleni
Johannesburg 55 – 35 Tshwane
Results on Monday, 1 December 2025
Tshwane 54 – 41 Nelson Mandela Bay
Cape Winelands 37 – 44 eThekwini
Johannesburg 53 – 56 Cape Town
Mangaung 51 – 46 Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Cape Winelands 35 – 53 Tshwane
Cape Town 55 – 39 Botswana
eThekwini vs Mangaung (postponed)
Johannesburg vs Botswana (postponed)
Under-21 A Section
Johannesburg 69 – 17 eThekwini
Tshwane 44 – 29 Ekurhuleni
Dr Kenneth Kaunda 56 – 26 Cape Town
Original Copy: BLD Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: The Senior A and U21 Johannesburg teams celebrate their Spar National Netball Championships trophies defended at Dr EG Jansen High School in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday, 6 December 2025. All Photos: Reg Caldecott
Photo 2 Caption: A clean sweep for Johannesburg teams with (from left) U21 Head Coach Bongi Msomi, and captain, Phila Ntuli, Senior A captain Tinita van Dyk and Head Coach Dr Elsje Jordaan.
Photo 3 Caption: The Senior Johannesburg A team proudly lift their fourth consecutive Spar National Netball Champs title after beating Cape Town by a single point.
Photo 4 Caption: Supporters of the double Johannesburg teams win express their happiness following the 2025 Spar National Netball Championship finals.
