Northern Cape Taekwondo takes Tuks Championship by storm

Taekwondo practitioners from the Northern Cape returned home from the 2025 Tuks Taekwondo Championship in Pretoria with renewed pride after delivering one of their best performances in recent years.

Competing against powerhouse provinces with bigger squads and resources, athletes from Sol Plaatje University (SPU) Taekwondo and Shidokwon Academy of Roodepan showcased grit, skill and determination to secure a remarkable eight medals.

The championship, held on August 16, drew over 20 clubs and hundreds of athletes from six provinces. And while most teams arrived with more than 50 competitors, the Northern Cape fielded only 23 athletes, five from Shidokwon Academy and 18 from SPU Taekwondo, and yet still punched well above their weight.

Among the standout performances was Kamogelo Morige of Shidokwon Academy, who clinched gold in the Male Under-9 category. His teammate Nazeem Kok added a bronze in the Male Under-13 division.

Participating with pride

SPU athletes also carried the provincial flag with pride. Raheem Ledibane (Male Over-80kg) and Mumsy Zungu (Female Under-67kg) both battled to silver medals, while Xolile Khumalo claimed bronze in the same female division. 

The Male Under-68kg category proved especially fruitful, with Lebogang Malatje storming to gold, while Siyabonga Methula and Ronaldo Bradwill each took bronze.

In total, the Northern Cape squad finished with two gold, two silver and four bronze medals, a massive leap from recent years.

Reflecting on the achievement, Mosekimang Dikgetsi, Northern Cape Taekwondo Association Coordinator and head coach of SPU Taekwondo, said that he is extremely proud of the athletes. 

“In 2023 we won just one gold medal. In 2024 we left empty-handed, and this year we brought home eight medals. That shows the growth and the hard work these young people have put in. 

“Despite limited resources, they competed against athletes with far more experience and preparation, and they proved that the Northern Cape belongs on the national stage.”

NC team building to bigger things

The championship atmosphere was electric, with fans’ cheers often drowning out even the speaker system. Dikgetsi admitted that while the grandstand was not filled to capacity, the noise levels made it difficult to relay instructions to athletes during bouts. He expressed hope that the Northern Cape will one day travel with a bus full of supporters.

All competing teams participated in Poomsae (the technical demonstration of Taekwondo forms) and Kyorugi (sparring), with team Ramokoka from Rustenburg topping the overall medal tally. 

The Northern Cape contingent entered only in Kyorugi but is laying the groundwork to form a Poomsae team in the future.

“Right now, most of our students prefer sparring, but we are working hard to develop a Poomsae team so that we can compete in both divisions,” Dikgetsi explained.

For the athletes who stood tall in Pretoria, the success is just the beginning. With national selection camps looming and international opportunities within reach, the Northern Cape Taekwondo community is showing that passion and perseverance can overcome financial and structural challenges.

Bigger things on the horizon

The Tuks Taekwondo Championship also carried added significance, as it was used by the national coach to scout for South Africa’s squad heading to the World Taekwondo Championship in Wuxi, China, later this year. 

Exciting news for the province is that Six SPU athletes were identified for the national training camp, along with junior competitor Kaylean Kaars, who will be considered for the Junior Olympics in 2026.

For Dikgetsi, this recognition is a breakthrough moment. “The national head coach was impressed by our progress and confirmed he will be visiting the Northern Cape on 4 October for a grading ceremony. That is something we have never had before. 

“It is proof that when we get opportunities, we rise to the occasion,” he said.

“We are building something special here,” said Dikgetsi. “The dream is that one day, when people think about South African Taekwondo, the Northern Cape will be spoken of with respect,” he concluded.