ERMELO – The playing courts at AJ Swanepoel Stadium are set to sizzle this Saturday, 9 May 2026, as the Gert Sibande Netball League officially launches its highly anticipated 2026 season. This year marks a historic milestone for the region, with a record-breaking seventeen (17) teams registered to compete for glory and a shot at the provincial Mpumalanga Super League.
A Sport on the Rise
Netball is rapidly cementing its status as the second-largest team sport by participation at the grassroots level within the Gert Sibande Region. Once seen as a traditionally female sport, the game has evolved into an inclusive powerhouse, attracting a significant number of male players and gaining massive momentum across Mpumalanga. The surge in interest is credited to several factors including the recent election of a new Gert Sibande Netball Association executive committee has brought fresh energy and structured governance.
“At Dr. Pixley, the facilities were built but were never completed in almost all units.”
The introduction of the Mpumalanga Netball Super League over the last two seasons has provided a clear pathway for regional talent to reach the elite level competition. Municipalities like Mkhondo, Lekwa, Govan Mbeki, and Chief Albert Luthuli have successfully established their own local leagues, feeding talent into the regional system.
The Contenders
Of the seven local municipalities in the region, five will be represented on the court this season:
1. Msukaligwa LM (Ermelo)
2. Chief Albert Luthuli LM (Carolina)
3. Govan Mbeki LM (Secunda)
4. Lekwa LM*(Standerton)
5. Mkhondo LM (Mkhondo/Piet Retief)
Notably absent this year are Dr. Pixley kaSeme LM (Volksrust) and Dipaleseng LM (Balfour). The association cited internal local issues, transport funding, and a severe lack of functional facilities as the primary reasons for their absence. “At Dr. Pixley, the facilities were built but were never completed in almost all units. Some were completed, but over time they got vandalized,” explained Xolani ‘NaMgayi’ Gumede, Chairperson of the Gert Sibande Netball Association. Despite these setbacks, Gumede remains optimistic, stating that the new committee is working on a plan for next year to close the gaps between local and district levels and standardize processes across the region.
League Structure and Stakes
The 2026 season will see teams split into two tiers: Division A: Home to the region’s top-performing teams and the male/mixed category. Division B: Focused on development and lower-performing teams. The stakes are high for those in the topflight. The top four teams in Division A will earn promotion to the prestigious Mpumalanga Netball Super League. In a bittersweet reality for grassroots sports, promotion remains the primary “prize” for the athletes. The league currently operates without corporate sponsorship, relying entirely on the passion and will of the players and organizers to sustain the competition.
What to Expect
Matches will be played on a monthly basis, rotating through various towns across the region. To ensure the quality of play, only towns with a minimum of three available courts will host league matches. As the first whistle blows in Ermelo this Saturday, the focus will be on the court—where talent, grit, and the dream of professional promotion will be on full display.