The South African Amateur Swimming Union (SAASU) was founded in 1899. Initially, its objectives were to manage water polo and swimming in the Cape Colony (despite its name, the Union of South Africa only occurred in 1910). Eventually, there were 13 provinces in the Union, and the sporting disciplines grew to include swimming, diving, water polo and synchronised swimming.

SAASU was disbanded in 1993 and replaced by a professional organisation known today as Swimming South Africa, which is headed by a government-appointed President. Sam Ramsammy, a former anti-apartheid activist, was the first appointed President. 

In August 2026, the leadership of Swimming South Africa (SSA) faced a major governance crisis when top officials were suspended by international authorities due to potential breaches of the World Aquatics Integrity Code.

Read more about the ongoing disputes with SSA about water polo team selection and financial mismanagement→

In 1900, Western Province Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) and Eastern Province ASA were the only members of the SAASU, which competed at the first national water polo championship event held at Port Elizabeth.

After the Boer War ended in 1902, more provinces joined SAASU. In 1980, there were twelve South African provinces, and Rhodesia, competing at the South African Aquatic Championships held in Cape Town.  Later that year, Rhodesia became Zimbabwe and left the SAASU. In 1990, South West Africa also left when it became Namibia. In 1995, the new South African government of South Africa scrapped the existing provinces, and the inter-provincial national championships, which became an inter-club event. The various codes also have separate annual championships.  

Later provincial associations were the Orange River Colony (ORC), Transvaal, which later split into Northern and Southern Transvaal, with Eastern and Western Transvaal emerging later. Natal ASA joined in 1905. Mossel Bay and East London initially sent teams to the championships, until they later became part of Eastern Province and Border ASA, respectively. The northern Cape city of Kimberley became the home of the Griqualand West province. The Vaal Triangle province was created in the 1970s. 

After the demise of the provincial system, the various aquatic sports disciplines no longer combine their national championships, and the competition is now a club-based event. The South African government sets policy and finances sports governance, and the new governing body for aquatic sports is Swimming South Africa. Following government policy, there are now (2025) nine regional governing bodies, just like the old provinces!

In 2024, a few international-quality swimmers like Tatjana Schoenmaker, Chad le Clos, and Matthew Sates remain active in the country. Racial quotas for selection and management of teams are enforced from school to international level; a lack of good coaches, adequate facilities, and the general incompetence and disinterest of Swimming South Africa have all but destroyed competitive sports.  

In 2026, Matthew Sates has emigrated to Australia, and Tatjana Smith (nee Schoemacher) has made a comeback in time for the 2028 Olympic Games. Pieter Coetzé set a world record in the 50m backstroke short course. Swimming South Africa is under investigation by the South African government for financial mismanagement, as well as by World Swimming. 

EP Herald - 15 February 1938

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  Eastern Province

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  Western Province

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  Natal

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  Transvaal

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  Northern Transvaal

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  Eastern Transvaal

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  Western Transvaal

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  Orange Free State

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  Griqualand West

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  Rhodesia

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  Border

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  South West Africa

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  Vaal Triangle