UJ athletes contribute to Team SA’s CUCSA title defence in Botswana

Team South Africa has once again asserted its dominance on the regional stage. The contingent has successfully defended its Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sports Association (CUCSA) Championship title at the 2026 Games in Gaborone, Botswana which took place from 28 June to 5 July.

Sending a powerhouse delegation of 171 members, Team SA finished at the absolute summit of the medal table. The team captured an extraordinary 46 medals overall (24 gold, 15 silver, and 7 bronze), leaving second-placed Zimbabwe and host nation Botswana (who claimed third position) in their wake.

UJ Athletes at CUCSA Games 2026 in Gaborone, Botswana

At the heart of this historic triumph was a stellar contingent from the University of Johannesburg (UJ), whose athletes directly contributed an incredible 13 medals to the nation’s final tally.

Athletics sets the track alight

The track and field events proved to be the jewel in Team SA’s crown. The athletes ran, jumped, and threw their way to the overall championship in the athletics category.

The UJ medal harvest: Individual brilliance, pace and precision

The UJ athletes made their presence felt across multiple disciplines, stepping onto the podium 13 times. Here is how UJ’s finest spearheaded Team SA’s medal rush:

The men’s division:

Tshepo Tyantini (2 Medals): Proved to be one of the fastest men at the Games, snatching Gold in the Men’s 100m sprint and adding a Silver to his cabinet in the 4x100m mixed relay.
Tumelo Lerumo (2 Medals): A masterclass in distance running, Lerumo dominated the track to secure a golden double in both the Men’s 1500m and 5000m events.
Caylon Ryan (1 Medal): Displayed explosive speed to claim Silver in the highly competitive Men’s 200m.
Lehlogonolo Dyasi (1 Medal): Joined his compatriot on the podium, earning a well-deserved Bronze in the Men’s 200m.

The women’s division:

Paballo Radebe (3 Medals): The ultimate utility runner, Radebe enjoyed a spectacular campaign, bagging Gold in the Women’s 4×400″m” relay, Silver in the 800m, and Bronze in the 1500m.
Emmarentia Germishuysen (2 Medals): Showed incredible range to win Gold in the Women’s 4×400″m” relay and a stellar Silver in the Women’s 200m sprint.
Nolwazi Mashaba (1 Medal): Soared through the air to claim a superb Silver in the Women’s Long Jump.
Mosale Thobejane (1 Medal): Demonstrated immense grit and tactical awareness to secure Silver in the gruelling Women’s 5000m.

“Congratulations to Team South Africa and all the athletes who represented our nation well at the CUCSA Games. This victory is not just a testament to the individual talent of these athletes, but to the robust sports systems within South African universities like UJ that continue to nurture world-class competitors,” said Ms. Nompilo Zondi, Senior Manager: UJ Sport Clubs.

With 46 medals safely in hand and the CUCSA trophy returning to South African soil, the class of 2026 has written another glorious chapter in the nation’s sporting history. For the UJ athletes, their 13-medal contribution continues to cement the university’s reputation as a premier breeding ground for champions.

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