South African Review of Sociology

Sport, Recreation and Leisure in Contemporary South Africa

Three decades after the end of Apartheid, South African society remains characterised by
high levels of inequality and economic disparities. These inequalities are primarily but not
exclusively experienced through race, class and gender. These differences are also
experienced in the realms of sport, recreation and leisure in South Africa. Sport in particular,
is often touted as a panacea for divisions and conflict in societies by politicians and public
commentators amongst others. This is evidenced in South Africa since 1994 through the
hosting of several billion US dollar mega events. The long-term material legacies of these
events are often negligible. At the elite professional sporting levels in men’s rugby and
women’s soccer in particular, South Africa has excelled. The controversial Apartheid era
rugby Springbok emblem has been reappropriated and rebranded as an inclusive unifying
symbol. While women’s sport recently receives more exposure and relative funding, it lags
behind their male counterparts. In addition, sport, recreation and leisure facilities remain
woefully underfunded and neglected at the amateur, junior levels and most significantly in
disadvantaged areas across the country.

This special issue is interested in but not limited to papers that address some of the
structural and societal inequalities in post-Apartheid South African sports, recreation and
leisure landscapes.