Tourists to South Africa

In the Victorian era, South Africa consisted of the Cape Colony and Natal, which were fully integrated members of the global Anglosphere. The introduction of English sports to the region during the 19th century laid the foundation for modern South African sporting culture. Brought over by British military regiments, emigrants, civil servants, and sporting entrepreneurs, these sports became deeply embedded in the social, political, and educational fabric of both colonies.

Located on the outbound shipping route from England to the British colonies in the east, Cape Town and Durban received many touring sports teams. Many coaches, administrators and athletes from various aquatic sports disciplines have visited South Africa, and sometimes also visited Rhodesia. On a few occasions, teams from South Africa and Rhodesia visited Mozambique, while individual swimmers from there and other neighbouring states competed in South Africa.

Due to the international sports boycott of sports in southern Africa from 1960 to 1990, some tours to and from southern Africa were deliberately not reported.

1898 - Percy and Ernest Cavill

Australian champion swimmers who toured South Africa in the late 19th century.

1913 - William Henry

Founder of the Royal Lifesaving Society and Olympic gold medal winner (Paris 1900).

1920 Australian Olympic Team

The Australian Olympic Team, en route to Antwerp, visited Durban.

1898 - Australian champions, brothers Ernest Cavill and Percy Cavill

1920 - Australians Steadman, Morris and Springfield.

1925 - Hilda James

1929 - English women

1931 - Dutch women

1939 - Australian men

1952 - diver Ann Ross

1956 - coach Bob Kiphuth

1957 - Dutch club zv Robben with coach Jan Stender

1959 - Australians - Devitt, Konrads, Gathercole, Bainbridge

1959 - Judy Grinham

1961 - Australians

1962 - Japanese men

1963 - Dutch women

1965 - Patty Caretto and coach Don Gambril

1966 - Cathy Ferguson and Kiki Caron

1966 - Ilsa Konrads1967 - Canada

1967 - Don Schollander

1968 - coach Dick Smith - US Olympic Diving coach

1968 - Canada

1968 - SV Würzburg

1969 - USA Women

1969 - SA Games

1970 - Australia

1971 - 1980 - Rhodesia

1973 - SA Games

1976 - coach Doc Councilman

1977 - coach Deryk Snelling

1981 - USA and Canada

1982 - Combined Team Canada Germany USA

1983 - Divers

1984 - USA swimmers and divers

1990 - USA divers Joe Greenwell, Megan Meyer, and two others (?)

Various Olympic Coaches like John Harte, Don Gambril, Robert Kiphuth and Deryk Snelling also visited the country.

In 1973 several internationals like Olympic medallists David Wilkie (Great Britain) and Seve Genter (USA) competed in the South African Games. Other international swimmers at the SA Games were J de Brunne, F Monod, S Nieser from Switzerland, world record holder Susan Atwood, A Simmons for the USA, Kurt Steinbach, R Remmel, J Weber, W Kusch, A Kober, F Meeuw, H Gunter-Vesseler, P Nows from West Germany

From 1968 until 1980 South Africa regularly competed against Rhodesia, with many competitors form that country visiting South Africa. A few tours also came from de Sportivo Club in Lorenzo Marques in Mozambique, although never an official team to compete against the Springboks.

In March 1983 a team of school's swimmers from Taiwan visited South Africa.