Keorapetse Mashimo, an alumnus of the North-West University (NWU) and a teacher by profession, has been awarded the Best Male Referee and Judge trophy at the National Youth and Elites Championships.
The event, organised by the South African National Boxing Organisation (SANABO), took place from 2 to 6 July in Durban and featured participation from all nine provinces.
Keorapetse, who has been officiating since 2018, says this recognition marks a significant milestone in his career.
He began his journey as a national referee and judge in 2018 and has since officiated at both local and national levels. Notably, he served as a referee at the University Sports South Africa Boxing Championships in 2018 and 2019, earning the Best Referee award in 2019. He also officiated at the South African Defence Force National Championships in the same year.
In 2023, Keorapetse was honoured by the Department of Arts, Culture, Sports, and Recreation in collaboration with the North West Sports Confederation. He received the titles of Sports Volunteer of the Year and Sports Administrator of the Year during the North West Sports Awards for his contributions to the field of boxing.
Beyond his officiating duties, he plays a significant role in sports administration. He serves as the secretary of the Mahikeng Local Sports Confederation and launched the Moshawane Cycling Club in 2022, which was named the Recreational Sporting Code of the Year. Additionally, he served as the provincial Boxing Federation’s spokesperson from 2018 to 2022, before being elected as secretary-general in 2022, where he manages the sport's affairs and represents the province in the National Council.
Keorapetse's contributions to sports development have also been recognised by Inside Education and the National Youth Development Agency, which named him one of South Africa's 100 shining stars in the Sports Development category in 2022 and 2023.
NWU alumnus Keorapetse Mashimo has been awarded the Best Male Referee and Judge trophy at the National Youth and Elites Championships.
