By Lebone Rodah Mosima
University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) student Andiswa Mbanjwa has been selected for a 15-member South African squad that will compete at the Commonwealth Kho Kho Championships in India.
The competition will take place from 6 to 13 October and is expected to attract teams from more than 24 Commonwealth countries.
Mbanjwa, 21, said she was proud to have made the national team after missing selection for South Africa’s squad for the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup in 2025.
“I failed to qualify for the South African team in 2025, but I’m so happy that my determination, hard work, and perseverance paid off this year, granting me an opportunity to represent my country with pride,” Mbanjwa said.
South Africa’s men’s and women’s teams won bronze medals at the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup in New Delhi in January 2025. Mbanjwa hopes to help the country build on that performance by challenging for gold at the Commonwealth championships.
Kho Kho is a traditional Indian tag sport played on a rectangular court. In the standard format, each side fields nine players, with teams alternating between chasing and defending. The chasing team attempts to eliminate defenders by tagging them with their hands.
UKZN said Mbanjwa was introduced to the sport in 2017 while she was still in primary school. She progressed to district level, representing uMgungundlovu in 2019, before competing for KwaZulu-Natal at national games in 2021 and 2023.
Mbanjwa is also a netball player and was selected for national top-35 under-18 and under-19 squads in 2022 and 2023 respectively. She currently plays for UKZN’s first-division netball team.
The third-year Bachelor of Education student, who specialises in Foundation Phase teaching, hopes to use her qualification to introduce young learners to sport, particularly indigenous games.
UKZN executive director of corporate relations Normah Zondo congratulated Mbanjwa on her selection and said the university was proud of student athletes who excelled academically and in competitive sport.
“Andiswa’s selection to represent South Africa in Kho Kho reflects not only her dedication and talent but also the spirit of excellence that defines UKZN,” Zondo said.
“We congratulate her on this remarkable achievement and wish her every success as she proudly represents both the University and South Africa at the Commonwealth Kho Kho Championships.”
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