Sport and development in South Africa: Sport in a changing society and economy

The development of sport in South Africa is an illustrative case of how sport is a microcosm of the broader socio-economic and political factors that have contributed to shaping South African society. It is therefore not surprising that apartheid, South Africa’s segregation policy which sanctioned political, economic and social discrimination against non-whites, has played a central role in the development of sport in South Africa. This chapter provides a historical context for the development of sport in South Africa with a particular focus on sport in an apartheid society and the transition to post-apartheid sport in a democratic era. The governance of sport in South Africa is also presented. Furthermore, it highlights unique challenges faced by the industry currently, such as transformation, women in sport and the use of sport in positioning South Africa as a globally competitive tourism and investment destination. The chapter further addresses other contemporary challenges and trends such as sustainability. Finally, precursory observations of how the global coronavirus pandemic affected major sport events in South Africa conclude the chapter.