Note that this article is not in any way a complete or official history of non-white swimming in South Africa, based on publicly available material from the internet and newspaper archives. 

Sports participation in South Africa was racially separated, with the black and coloured communities creating and managing separate governing bodies from those of the whites. Swimming South Africa (SSA) is currently the only recognised governing body for all the aquatic sports disciplines, although the water polo community established an independent national body in 2025, after successfully challenging SSA in the High Court for the right to do so.  

Below is the text from a document created by Swimming South Africa.

THE HISTORY OF NON-RACIAL SWIMMING IN SOUTH AFRICA: FROM APARTHEID SPORT TO DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY

The formation of the first Non-racial national swimming movement in South Africa

6 April, 1966

Swimming in South Africa has existed for well over a century under the banner of the South African Amateur Swimming Union (SAASU) – an avowedly historically exclusively white aquatics organisation. However, SAASU did little or nothing to cater for swimming among black sportspeople (black being defined as all disenfranchised people prior to April 1994). As a result, black sports administrators began organising the sport on a regional basis way back since the mid-fifties.

Although organised swimming started much later, by the early part of the 20 century, social swimming was already taking place among black people, using whatever facilities were available to them at the time, including rivers and dams. By the middle of the century, swimming began to take on an organised form, particularly in the then Natal province (now KwaZulu-Natal), Western Cape and Griqualand West (Kimberley). Organisations such as the Natal Indian Amateur Swimming Association and the Western Cape Amateur Swimming Association developed the sport in their particular regions, with organisation of the African townships taking place in the mid-seventies with the Amateur Swimming Association of the Western Transvaal. The following extract from the souvenir brochure of the first official interprovincial swimming competition among black sportspersons provides a historical context:

“The present Association was formed in the gloomy atmosphere of a humble shack, which was the clubhouse of the Durban Indian Surf Life Saving Club on the beach on 21st May 1956. The onus had fallen on the lifesavers to promote swimming because they were perhaps the only members of the community to have some knowledge of swimming at that time. The Association has weathered many storms under the careful guidance of Mr B. B. Singh and his fellow lifesavers. They had the support of many prominent members of the community. The need for the Association arose as a result of the City Council providing the community with a swimming bath - the first and only bath for Indians in Durban - in 1956. Since then, the Association has come a long way - it is now in a position of staging an inter-provincial tournament.”

Attempts at inter-provincial competitions began in 1959, following discussions between the Natal association and Griqualand West. Although these attempts at competition did not succeed, they did, at least, set the stage for interprovincial administrative contact. These contacts gave rise to several meetings in various parts of the country. The words from the 1970 Tournament brochure extracted below capture these historic days:

“There are reports that there had been some sort of association between the Griqualand West Amateur Swimming Union and the Western Cape Amateur Swimming Association. Prior to 1965, competitions had been held between these two centres on a friendly basis. In 1964, certain officials of the Western Cape Amateur Swimming Association – some names that come to mind are: Mr W.A. Paulse, Mr R. Herbert and Mr A. Florris - visited several centres in the hope of establishing a national organisation. There was general keenness at Durban, Kimberley, Port Elizabeth and, of course, Cape Town. There was some difficulty in establishing contact with the Transvaalers.

When the different provinces met in Cape Town on January 3, 1965 - Eastern Cape represented by Messrs. Y. Solomons and R. Hitzeroth; Griqualand West by Messrs. W. Rhoda and J. Myers; Natal by Messrs. M. Jithoo and S. Nadasen and Western Cape by Messrs. W. Paulse, Herbert, Florris, L. Swain, E. Barlow, L. Van Breda and E. Shaw - they agreed to begin working towards forming such a body.

The minutes of this founding meeting provide exciting historical material. The same four centres were again represented, and this meeting adopted the unanimous resolution of forming the South African Amateur Swimming Federation. This meeting took place on April 6, 1966. The constitution was discussed and this was also adopted, and Mr W.A. Paulse, who was pro-tem chairman until then, was elected president of the Federation. Mr Eric Barlow, pro-tem secretary, was elected secretary while Messrs. A.L. van Breda and R. Abrahams filled the positions of treasurer and records clerk, respectively.”

Coinciding with these meetings, interprovincial competitions were organised. The first ever inter-provincial took place in January 1965 in Cape Town. Four teams (Eastern Province, Western Cape, Griqualand West and Natal) participated. This was followed by another national competition at the time of the launch of the new Federation, in Durban (Balkumar Singh Baths, Asherville) from 5 - 9 April 1966. On both these occasions, the Natal team won convincingly. The first biennial general meeting was held in Cape Town on January 5, 1969. Morgan  Naidoo was elected president,  with George Govender (secretary), Roy  Parag (Records Clerk), and R. Bijou (treasurer) filling the remaining positions.

The first tournament of the 1970’s of the fledgling organisation took place in Durban (Balkumar Singh Baths, Asherville) from 4 - 10 January 190, hosted by the renamed Amateur Swimming Union of Natal with five teams (Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Griqualand West, Transvaal and Natal) participating.

Swimming Organisations in South Africa

When SAASwiF was formed in 1966, one of its stated objectives was membership to FINA, however, because of the existing affiliation of the exclusively white, South African  Amateur Swimming Union (SAASU) to FINA, SAASwiF was decided to engage SAASU with a view to forming a single controlling organisation of aquatic sport in the country. On 17 July 1971, these two organisations met for the first time. The joint press release issued after this meeting declared that both the organisations were committed to the principles of selection on merit, and pursuing a “non-racial” policy in swimming.

However, a few days later, SAASU breached an agreed code on press statements and unilaterally announced in the media that “teams would be selected on merit, but within the framework of the government sport policy”. SAASU knew full well that this meant a racially segregated approach to sports participation.

Despite this, both organisations met on several occasions during 1971 and 1972. Because of the inability of the two organisations to agree on basic principles, SAASwiF suspended all discussions in October 1972 and decided to apply directly to FINA for membership. On 20 August 1973, FINA expelled South Africa (SAASU) from international swimming. In November 1973.

The Amateur Swimming Association of Western Transvaal (ASAWT), formed in May 1974, was the first “African” provincial swimming body in South Africa. ASAWT helped organise the Vaal Triangle, with structures being set up soon after in Northern Transvaal, Galeshewe (North Cape) and Natal by January 1975. These developments led to the establishment of the SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL AMATEUR SWIMMING ASSOCIATION (SANASA) by May 1975. The SANASA Executive comprised of: Monnathebe  enokoanyane (President); S. Ngcobo (Vice-president); Fikile Soni (Secretary); Mac Ratladi (Treasurer). Later in the same year, units were established in East London and Langa (Cape Town).

SANASA, in November 1977 attempted to convene a national meeting of all aquatics organisations with a view to forming a single controlling body. This was unsuccessful. By 1980, SAASwiF had decided that no further purpose would be served in engaging with SAASU. SAASwiF and SANASA did however decide that a strengthening of relationships between their two organisations was critical for aquatic sport in the country. Informal interaction between the two organisations continued regularly until May 1981, when the two met formally. In November 1981, the SAASwiF National Council agreed that its organisation should dissolve to form a new united structure with SANASA. On 31 January 1982, the Amateur Swimming Association of South Africa (ASASA) was launched.

ASASA had no meaningful contact with SAASU throughout the 1980’s. A changing political environment in the early 1990’s prompted the ASASA Executive to engage once again with SAASU. Talks were held in 1991, but once again, fundamental differences resulted in a breakdown of discussions. In 1992, a new FINA Commission was dispatched to South Africa, and initiated talks between SAASU, ASASA and a splinter group from ASASA. Later that year, FINA admitted a merged organisation, consisting of SAASU and the ASASA splinter group, into international aquatics. ASASA remained outside this grouping until 1999, when, through protracted discussions between ASASA and the FINA recognised structure resulted in a truly unified aquatics structure in South Africa. Swimming South Africa, as we know it today, is the result of this history.

Racism and Politics in South African Swimming  1966 – 2000

Both predecessors to ASASA, SAASwiF and SANASA were built on the principle of non-racialism, yet both had membership from distinctive communities. This disappeared with the emergence of ASASA. Both predecessor organisations constitutionally allowed any person, regardless of colour, as members. This was not so for SAASU, who felt obliged to follow the dictates of the racial government and was thus racially exclusively white.

Not only was the government’s policy clearly based on race, it was also based on the concept of racial superiority – not much different from the policies of Nazi Germany of the 1930s. The Broederbond, a secret organisation that was the mastermind behind the ruling National Party, and consisted of many of the leaders of the apartheid government, clearly identified sport as an area of intervention for advancing its philosophies of racial superiority.

There were times when these policies, were it not so hurtful, would have been laughable. Black nannies of white children were allowed into pools  (previously illegal), but only if they were accompanying their charges.  Entering the water was prohibited - unless a white child was drowning, of course!!

It was apparent that SAASU preferred not to challenge government policy, although an open membership was not illegal. Government policy was often tempered by international pressure, and there were attempts at literally “duping” both the local and international communities. At times, this sports policy became so convoluted that even the poor Minister of Sport, Piet Koornhof, could not help becoming confused.

But it was not just the ruling National Party that was guilty of such blatant racism - the United Party (of strong English “liberal” roots) had little qualms about insulting people of darker shades than themselves, as the above article shows - apologising after hurling insults was a special characteristic of the racist politicians – liberal and “verkrampte” alike. The government of the day was even more vicious in applying it racist policies – not just verbally. It actually forced SAASwiF in 1976 to change the venue of its national championships because it was not prepared to allow swimmers of different communities (or “races” as defined by the state) to swim in the same pool. The venue was to be the prestigious Karen Muir Olympic Pool (the Kimberley equivalent of King’s Park back in the seventies).

SAASU towed the hurtful line all the way. In January 1974, its Western Province affiliate invited our Western Cape unit to participate in a friendly gala. Shortly afterwards, it followed the invite with a less friendly letter. The letter says it all: what a cheek!! Close proximity of ourselves with the white swimmer could not be tolerated under any circumstances - not even at the entrances or with programme sellers. Western Cape rejected both the invitation and letter with total disgust.

No matter how hard SAASU attempted to prove to both our organisations and the international community that they operated within the ambit of South African law, it was obvious from their actions that their position was not dissimilar to that of the state. This became even more obvious when following top-level discussions between SAASwiF and SAASU in the early seventies. At these talks, SAASU agreed to the principle of non-racialism, as stated in a joint statement issued after the talks. In a not so strange twist (we had since become accustomed to the workings of the organisation), two days later, the President of SAASU (Roy Glegg), claimed that such agreed polices can only work within the stated government policy, which Mr Glegg well knew explicitly forbade joint activities between swimmers of different shades.

 Sadly, such policies were not just restricted to swimming or sports in general; even ordinary recreational activities, such as children’s playgrounds, were clearly out of bounds for those of us with darker skin - try explaining to a four to five-year-old why he/she may not play on that swing or roundabout. Is it little wonder that the society we have produced today is so suspicious of someone with skin of a different shade to their own. Such legacies are bound to live with us for a long time - and are not going to disappear on their own accord.

However, it was not just the government, its secret societies (the Broederbond) and the white sports organisations that promoted this racist divide in sport. Corporate South Africa played a significant role. Sponsorship of black sport was virtually non-existent, with white sport receiving up to twenty times as much sports sponsorship. With these sorts of discrepancies, one wonders how black sport actually survived in this environment!

Excluded from International Swimming  1973

With increasing international isolation on the sports front, the South African government and the sports associations hanging onto its coat tails, attempted many devious ways to deceive both the international community and the majority of black South Africans. Racially exclusive sports organisations were created for black people – the token leaders of these sham structures were then invited to sit on the executive boards of the exclusively white organisations, and on specific occasions, the membership of these sham organisations were invited to participate in certain events. Total integration was not permitted, not at club, provincial or national level. In swimming, SAASU engineered the establishment of a “coloured” swimming organisation (coinciding with FINA investigation of racist swimming in South Africa) – whose total membership consisted of its president, his sons and nephews! Of course, this individual was invited to sit on the executive of SAASU, and the organisation invited to participate in the South African Games in the seventies – and SAASU claimed this as a “breakthrough”!

SAASwiF, of course, refused to be part of these duplicitous actions and rejected this new “unity” and refused to participate in token events. With this type of attitude expressed both by the government and SAASU, the non-racial national swimming organisation had little choice but to develop new approaches in order to promote swimming among Black swimmers in South Africa. SAASwiF decided that it was time to attempt to obtain international recognition. It applied for membership to the Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA - the international controlling body of aquatic sports). Because it had already recognised SAASU (actually one of the founder members of FINA), FINA was forced to send a top-level Commission of Enquiry to South Africa. This mission included the then-President of FINA.

A lengthy 120-page submission by SAASwiF exposed both the state and SAASU for their racial practices, a serious contravention of both FINA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). SAASwiF vigorously campaigned for the expulsion of SAASU from the world body. Faced with cries of playing politics and hurting innocent swimmers (white!), SAASwiF realised that only this form of action would drive the racist practitioners to their senses. On 30 August 1974 FINA Bureau announced the expulsion of South Africa from international swimming.

Intimidation of Non-Racial Swimming Organisations

Both SAASwiF and later SANASA paid dearly for their position on racism in swimming. The state applied all its ruthless machinery against the organisations. In quick succession, Federation officials Morgan Naidoo and Roger Ellick were refused passports for overseas travel. These gentlemen were intending to present the case of Black sportspeople to international fora. This shortsightedness on the part of the state only served to further convince the international community that it was justified in excluding white South Africa from participating in international sport.

Three months after having his passport withdrawn, Morgan Naidoo was served with a “banning order”. This prevented him from attending meetings of the Federation, officiating at swimming galas or conducting “Learn-to-Swim” campaigns. It also prohibited him from being in the presence of more than two people at any particular time.

SANASA officials were similarly threatened by state authorities at local level. Officials of SANASA affiliates were generally employed by local government “Administration Boards”. They were often pool supervisors, who in turn provided coaching and teaching programmes for youngsters at their pools. Interaction with SANASA placed them in jeopardy of losing their jobs. Many faced with such stark choices severed their links with the swimming organisation to the detriment of swimming in those areas. The West Rand Administrative Board (WRAB), which previously gave a grant-in-aid of R100 and R400 to ASAWT and SANASA, respectively, per season, discontinued the grants. The WRAB’s attempt to destroy the unity of the organisers met with failure. However, similar action by Boards in other parts of the country did succeed in causing division, as people were threatened with dismissal if they did not co-operate with the authorities. As a result, swimming in these areas suffered a severe blow.

At the time of the merger between SANASA and SAASwiF, only ASAWT was still fully operative. Contact with the people in the rest of the country was lost as people, through fear of losing their jobs, distanced themselves from SANASA.

But governmental intimidation was not all that these organisations faced. The extreme white right wing showed little mercy when it came to expressing its opinions. Our Western Cape officials continuously expressed threatening telephone calls - not even the children of these officials were spared such action. In Natal, these acts of terror went chillingly further. Petrol bombs into homes and cars, and even early morning gun attacks. The police have yet to uncover the culprits of these atrocities.

Raising Standards of Non-racial Competitive Swimming  1966 – 1994

Given this extremely abnormal set of conditions that were operating in an important social activity such as sport is, it is a wonder that non-racial swimming actually survived this onslaught. One of the primary reasons that both SAASwim and SANASA lived to give birth to ASASA was that, despite the politics that engulfed our sport, both organisations strove to give their young membership exactly what they wanted: recreational and competitive swimming.

Notwithstanding the difficulties, lack of facilities and lack of finances, the non-racial swimming organisations that standards were constantly improving. This they did through a variety of ways.

In fact, in the early days of non-racial swimming, with limited resources at our disposal (the first swimming facility for Black people in Natal was the Balkumar Singh Pool opened in 1956), the commitment of coaches, swimmers and administrators resulted in performances that were comparable with our privileged white counterparts. Swimmers such as Ismail Vayej and Seelan Nair were producing times that were as good as the wonderboy of white swimming, Paul Blackbeard. Griqualand West Amateur Swimming Association’s young star, Brian Hermanus, was producing times that would have obtained him a place in the finals of 1972 Olympics.

Credit for the standards set in the late sixties and early seventies must go to men like Samba Ramsamy, who, with international swimming experience, coached the Natal team to its early success.

Throughout its existence, organisations such as SAASwiF, SANASA and ASASA continually undertook programmes aimed at improving standards. Gala Officials’ Courses and Examinations were the norm from the early seventies, with almost every pool deck official fully conversant with the latest FINA rules and conduct of competitive swimming. Developing coaches and coaching programmes was critical to this programme. Manuals were even developed for the traditionally “Cinderella” codes, such as water polo – note the “artist” of this 1980 publication for water polo – none other than the current President of Swimming South Africa!

Not only were the technocrats in the organisation involved in writing their own manuals, but engaging external resources was integral to this programme. This included obtaining the rights to publish locally the David Wilkie (the British Olympic gold medallist in breaststroke) book on elite competitive swimming and getting leading coaches to participate within the organisation, such as Terry Gulliver and Jim Spring.

The non-racial organisations were determined to provide the highest possible incentives for its swimmers. The Federation’s top five swimmers of 1972 were given a lifetime opportunity. They were sent to a six week training course at the capital of English swimming, Crystal Palace. Once again, credit to Samba Ramsamy for his role in Federation’s ambitious programme.

If standards within SAASwiF and SANASA were so high in the early days, why is the gap between white and black so wide today? This question is often asked by many on both sides of the unity divide. The discourse presented above should provide some idea of the answer to this question. In the early sixties, the facilities that existed although were greatly different (black swimmers had fewer pools, less experienced coaches; white swimmers had internationally trained coaches as a norm, with pools in most suburbs). However, sheer tenacity on the part of the non-racial sports organisations partially compensated for this: provision of high-level national championships, coaching clinics etc.

However, with the onset of the seventies, this imbalance suddenly widened. In order to appease white sportspersons who were increasingly being isolated from the international community, a vast amount of money was invested by the state in the provision of resources and other facilities for the white swimmer. Almost overnight, white, exclusive Olympic-standard swimming pools sprang up in major centres. Heated pools, which permitted year-round training programmes, became the norm. Our swimming got stuck in the sixties mould: 25-yard and 331/3 yard pools for the summer months were our watering grounds - little wonder that our officials were mathematicians - the Conversion Table Books were always in demand!

White swimming celebrated when its prestige swimming pool, the Ellis Park, received electronic timing - for the first time in South Africa - way back in 1972. White swimming took anti-ripple lanes for granted. The first time that black swimmers were able to experience electronic timing was in the 1990s, some 20 years later!

When ASASA celebrated its inaugural national championships in 1982 at the Galeshewe township in Kimberley, the facilities were dangerous and seriously substandard – little more than ropes for lanes! And they still want to know why we are where we are.......

Tribute to Fallen Heroes

Morgan Naidoo - Entered swimming in 1964 as Vice President of the Natal Amateur Swimming Association. President and founder member of SAASwiF (1966) until its merger with SANASA in 1982. Secretary General of ASASA from its launch until his death in October 1988. Founder member of SACOS. SACOS President 1980-81;  Secretary General 1981-84; Publicity Secretary 1986. Played an instrumental role in isolating racist swimming organisations from international sport. Banned for five years under the Suppression of Communism Act from 19731978. Posthumously awarded the Nelson Mandela President's Sports Administrator's Award in October 1998.

Monathebe Senokoanyane - First President of SANASA (1975-1982). Played a crucial role in developing swimming in the African townships, especially in the then Transvaal. Was a key role player in the unification between SAASwiF and SANASA in 1982. Became the first president of ASASA in 1982 until he was tragically killed in a car crash on April 16,1983.

Harry Hendricks - The true elder statesman of non-racial sport and swimming in particular. A founder member of the Eastern Cape Amateur Swimming Association in the early sixties, and played an important role in shaping the direction of SAASwiF and was instrumental in the organisation of school sport in the sixties. Was responsible for ensuring that technical standards were maintained within non-racial sport, through Officials’ Courses and examinations, development of coaching technical manuals etc. He was integral to coaching his sons, particularly Denver and Gavin, to success in competitive swimming. Played key roles in ASASA, including that of acting President at various times.

Archie Hulley - Another stalwart of non-racial sport, and leader of aquatic sport. He was Vice President and Acting President of SAASwiF since the early seventies until its merger with SANASA in 1982. He was active in school sports throughout his life. He continued to be active in swimming at a national level until late in his life.

Tom Paulse - Founder member of the South African Amateur Swimming Federation (SAASwiF) in 1965 and of ECASA. Played an instrumental role in establishing ECASA swimming as a key force in national events in the seventies and eighties, especially from his Uitenhage base at Dolphins Swimming Club- one of the oldest swimming clubs in the country. Served on the ASASA Executive as an ECASA delegate. Was the winner of the prestigious ASASA Sportsperson of the Year Award in 1996. Died in office in 1997.

Gulagha Mohamed - Executive member of the Eastern Cape Amateur Swimming Association from 1972 to 1979. She moved to Cape Town, where she became secretary of the Western Cape ASA from 1980-1987. She was the SA Senior Schools Sports Association secretary from 1977 to 1979. She served the Eastern Province Senior Schools Sports Association from 1964 to 1979. On her return to King Williamstown in 1987, she began organising swimming in this area following the decline in activities of the Border ASA. She died in 1991, while still active in the ranks of ASASA.

Fred Beukes - Founder member of the Aquadale Swimming Club in Southern Transvaal ASA, based at Ennerdale. Became secretary of STASA and in 1990 became General Secretary of ASASA, a post which he held until ill-health forced to accept a less onerous task - that of assistant secretary of ASASA in 1994. Fred died in office on 14 February 1997.

Other Stalwarts of non-racial swimming

Vasi Nair -  Mr. Nair’s involvement in aquatic sport commenced in the late sixties as chairperson of the Otto Swimming Club. Executive member of the Durban and District Swimming Association and the Natal Indian Amateur Swimming Association, then renamed the Amateur Swimming Union of Natal in 1967. Mr Nair served as President and Vice President until 1976. Returned to the position of Vice President from 1989 – 1994 in the Amateur Swimming Association of Natal. Apart from his involvement at club and provincial level, Mr Nair served in various positions in SAASwiF from 1968 until 1980. He was a leading technical official, deputy convenor of the Gala Officials’ Course and Examinations Convenor at a national level. Mr Nair was one of the most accredited technical officials on the pool deck, having been a referee and starter at almost all national tournaments. In recognition of his contribution to sport, Mr Nair won the prestige KZN Premier’s Sportsperson Award in 2002 and a lifetime achievement recognition by Swimming South Africa in 2005.

Mike Davy - Started out his career in the mid sixties as a swimmer, subsequently became coach and chairperson of Whalers Swimming Club from Eldorado Park in Johannesburg. Became President of the then Southern Transvaal affiliate of ASASA. Played a major role in the merger between SAASwiF and SANASA, and became pro-tem secretary, then assistant secretary and in 1984 became vice president of ASASA. Became President of ASASA in 1990, until its merger with Swimming South Africa in 1999, when he became Vice President for Development in the restructured SSA in 2000.

Gideon Sam - One of the early administrators of the Border Amateur Swimming Association, formed and affiliated to ASASA in the mid-1980s. Was involved in the unity talks in the early 1990s. Became Deputy President following a merger with SAASU in 1992, and then President in 1996 until 2004. Played an important role in the unification of Swimming South Africa and ASASA in 1999. Currently Deputy President. Apart from swimming also involved in senior positions in national rugby, as well as being the former Chairperson of the SA Sports Commission.

Thabo Seotsanyana -  Formerly coach and chairperson of Senoane Swimming Club from Soweto. A key executive member of SANASA, who became the vice president of ASASA at its formation, and subsequently its President upon the demise of Monathebe Senokoanyane in 1983. Illness forced him out of aquatics administration in 1990.

Param Naidoo -  He was initially a swimmer of Daintree Swimming Club, then of Otto Swimming Club, during the sixties. Participated in the first non-racial national swimming championships held in Cape Town, 1965. Since then, he participated in ALL annual national swimming championships organised by adult body and schools’ structures between 1965 – 1973. He was the national champion in all butterfly, freestyle and breaststroke events between 1965 – 1973, and was the national surf swimming champion in 1970/71. Coach for Otto from 1973 – 1979, producing provincial and national swimming champions and national record holders. Was appointed Natal provincial coach: 1974 - 1979 and again from 1992 – 1999. In addition, he was also the provincial Primary School’s Swimming Coach (1974 - 1979), the provincial Senior School’s Coach (1974 - 1979). He was the coach of the winning national team for several years: 1974 - 1979; 1994 – 1999, and the coach of the runner-up national team: 1993. Two of his proteges (Seelan Nair and Anita Vlotman) were selected to travel to a three-month international training programme in London in 1975. He was recognised for his contribution to the sport by being nominated for the Premier’s Sportsperson Award in 2001. He was also the Assistant Coach to the national team, which toured Brazil in 1999. Provincial and national Selection Committee member from 1990 – 1996 and again in 2000.

Samba Ramsamy - Samba was one of the early coaches of Otto Swimming Club and coach of the provincial side in Natal. In those early days, he was also records clerk and treasurer of the provincial organisation. He left the country in 1968 and became based in the United Kingdom became one of the leading international campaigners for the isolation of apartheid sport in South Africa. As President of the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee (SANROC), Samba was responsible for representing many of the non-racial sporting codes on the international front. He often represented  SAASwiF at the FINA meetings. On his return to South Africa in 1992, Samba became the first president of the South African Amateur Swimming Association and the president of the National Olympic Committee of South Africa (NOCSA). He stepped down as a formal Swimming South Africa member in 2004, to assume the position of Honorary Life President of the organisation and a Vice President of FINA.

Eddie Meth - His career started in 1959, when he joined Daintree Swimming Club, based at the Balkumar Swimming Pool at Asherville, Durban. Captain of the provincial team to national competitions from 1964 - 67. Provincial swimming coach for the Amateur Swimming Association of Natal from 1980 – 1985. Swimmers under his guidance have received national and provincial honours, including receiving international sports scholarships to a university in the USA. Director of Development in KwaZulu Natal Aquatics from 1992 to 2001, and the Deputy President from 1996 until 2000, Executive member of Swimming South Africa from 1997 until 2000.

Some Swimmers who became household names in non-racial swimming

Denver Hendricks

Brian Hermanus

Shreef Abass

Anita Vlotman

Seelam Nair

Derek Oderson

Gavin Hendricks

Keith Meth

Mokotja Mota

In the Boardroom

L to R: Vasi Nair, Dhama Nair, Dhasi Naidoo, Archie Hulley, RK Naidoo, Strini Naidoo, unknown visitor, Reggie Feldman, DK Singh, Harry Hendricks – administrators of SAASwiF in the early seventies

Natal Executive, 1965-66: (Standing) A. Mira, Morgan Naidoo (Vice President), Krishna Veeran (Coach), I. Mahabir, M. Jithoo (Vice President); (Seated) EH Ismail  (Patron), SV Reddy (Treasurer), R. Hansrajh (President), S. Nadasen (Secretary),  Samba Ramsamy (Record Clerk)

SAASwiF, 1971/3: (Back): SR Naidoo (Natal), IH Maclean (Eastern Cape), HCC Hendricks (Eastern Cape), N Jephta (Griqualand West), (Middle) S Viranna (Primary  School), D Nair (Natal), T.Paulse (Eastern Cape), AI van Breda (Western Cape), D  Naidoo (Natal), K McAnda (Griqualand West), MS Singh (Senior Schools); (Front):  RW Herbert (Western Cape), V. Nair (Vice President), M Naidoo (President), D.  Naidoo (Asst Secretary), SK Naidoo (Treasurer), RW Maurice (Western Cape)

ASASA Executive 1985 L to R: Mike Davy (Deputy President), Rocky Naidoo (Records  Clerk), Thabo Seotsanyane  (President), Morgan Naidoo (General Secretary), Adam Abdool (Treasurer)

ASASA Executive 1999 - L to R (standing): Jace Naidoo (General Secretary), Mike Davy (President), Cyril Julie (Deputy President), Roland Wagner (Records – Technical), Errol van der Hoeven (Records Clerk), Rishi Hiramun (Age Group  Convenor), Rocky Naidoo (Assistant Secretary), Aubrey Goosen (Assistant Records  Clerk), Audrey Meyer (Synchronised Swimming Convenor), Johnny Kamal  Treasurer)

The text and layout of this historical display of non￾racial swimming since 1966 was done by Rajen Naidoo and sponsored by Swimming South Africa.