Johannesburg - South Africa's newly crowned Sportswoman of the Year, middle-distance runner Caster Semenya, has been nominated for the Athlete of the Year accolade at the annual Gsport Awards, which recognises the performances of sportswomen and coaches of women's sports teams.
Semenya, the Olympic silver medallist in the 800m event, has been nominated alongside Olympic canoeing bronze medallist Bridgitte Hartley and national women's hockey captain Marsha Marescia for the top honour at the women's awards ceremony in Johannesburg on November 20.
Retired Paralympic swimmer Natalie du Toit has been nominated for the Woman of the Year award, the organisers announced on Monday, along with pole fitness champion Venessa Clack and 70-year-old Sue Pather, who has dedicated years of her time to the promotion of women’s cricket.
Du Toit has also been nominated for the Athlete of the Year with a Disability accolade, along with South Africa’s top-ranked women's wheelchair tennis player, Kgothatso Montjane, and Paralympic medallist Ilse Carstens.
Banyana Banyana coach Joseph Mkhonza, named Coach of the Year at the South African Sports Awards on Sunday, will be up against Proteas netball mentor Elize Kotze and national women's cricket coach Yashin Ebrahim in the same category.
The organisers of the event said in a statement that public voting would start on Wednesday.
South African women have shone on the sports field this year, with Semenya and Hartley bagging silver and bronze medals respectively at the London Games.
The Proteas netball team secured a series victory over the West Indies for the first time in 28 years and the national women's cricket team beat Sri Lanka in the opening match of the Women's World T20 for their first win in the history of the tournament.
The South African women's soccer side qualified for the Olympics for the first time and the women's hockey team passed a gruelling qualification process to book their place at the Games. - Sapa