Karla Pretorius was named the Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation’s sportswomen of the year for 2024.
She was one of 21 sportswomen, sportsmen, teams, and administrators that were awarded during a function in the city hall on Saturday, 21 September.
The Sportsman of the Year award went to Johannes Sonopo for gymnastics.
The sportsman of the year with a disability was Karabo Morapedi who represented South Afrika at the Paralympic Games in boccia recently.
The same went for the athlete Louzanne Coetzee, recognised as sportswoman of the year with a disability, along with her guides Estean Badenhorst and Claus Kempen.
The team of the year is the Free State Cheetahs.
The newcomer of the year is Mika-Leigh Strydom for her participation in modern pentathlon. The coach of the year is Naude van Zyl for modern pentathlon.
The department awarded the Free State Association for the Physically Disabled and Visually Impared with the provincial federation of the year award.
Mlungisi Louw, photographer for Netwerk24 and Volksblad, was named photographer of the year.
The school team of the year was the Hoër Meisieskool Oranje’s first tennis team.
The MEC’s Excellence award went to Muzi Moses for judo and Khanisa Chawane for netball.
A MEC Lifetime Achiever Award was given to Tshakile Nzimande for athletics and Kovsies netball coach Burta de Kock. The People’s Choice award went to Chawane.
