Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is recognised by

Act of Parliament Acts of Parliament, sometimes referred to as primary legislation, are texts of law passed by the Legislature, legislative body of a jurisdiction (often a parliament or council). In most countries with a parliamentary system of government, acts of ...

as the national controlling body for

mind sport A mind sport, is a game of skill based on intellectual ability. Etymology The first major use of the term was as a result of the Mind Sports Olympiad in 1997. The phrase had been used prior to this event such as backgammon being described as ...

s in South Africa. Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is also an affiliate of the International eSports Federation, Fédération Mondiale du Jeu de Dames, and the International Wargames Federation. Due to its membership of such international bodies, the MSSA is the sole authority for the games that it caters for in terms of the Sport and Recreation Act, number 110 of 1998 (as amended).

History

Mind Sports South Africa was formally constituted on 14 December 1985. However, it was not until 1990 that the MSSA became a member of NOCSA in 1990, and in 1991 that the MSSA became affiliated to the Confederation of South African Sports Confederation (COSAS). The MSSA was one of the members that encouraged unity during the

apartheid Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...

era, and thus voted in favour of the unifying of sport. As a consequence of the actions of the many National Federations, the National Sports Council was formed in 1994 and was immediately accepted as a full member of the newly formed body. Upon dissolution of the NSC in 1999, the MSSA played its part in supporting the formation of the South African Sports Commission in 1999. Once the South African Sports Commission was formed (by Act of Parliament) the MSSA again was accepted as a full member. Even when the Minister of Sport and Recreation saw the need to ask Parliament to amend the Sports and Recreation Act (number110 of 1998), the official recognition of Mind Sports South Africa remained unchanged as the MSSA became a founding member of the

South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) ( af, Suid-Afrikaanse Sportkonfederasie en Olimpiese Komitee) is the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and National Paralympic Committee (NPC) for South Africa, and the respon ...

(SASCOC). All the games promoted by Mind Sports South Africa are accredited as national sports. Such accreditation by the Sports and Recreation Act (number110 of 1998), guarantees the MSSA as being the only authority for the administration and control of the games that fall under the MSSA's jurisdiction. The MSSA changed its name in 2005 from the South African Wargames Union (SAWU) to that of Mind Sports South Africa.

Structure

Mind Sports South Africa, like other sports federations in South Africa, is constituted as a

voluntary association A voluntary group or union (also sometimes called a voluntary organization, common-interest association, association, or society) is a group of individuals who enter into an agreement, usually as volunteers, to form a body (or organization) to ac ...

. The highest authority of the MSSA is the Annual General Meeting which holds all Committees accountable for their actions. The executive committee meets a minimum of twice a year, and requires a full report from the management board. The management board deals with the day-to-day operations of the MSSA and overseas the different Boards of Control. Clubs are directly affiliated to the MSSA which ensures that there is greater transparency and inclusion.

History of the emblem

Back in the early 1990s, the South African Wargames Union (as the MSSA was then known) was invited to participate in the World Team Championships for Wargames. Up until that point the MSSA used the rampant lion as its symbol. However, it was felt by the committee to approach the State Herald to design something specifically for the MSSA that best represented the games as administered by the MSSA. The State Herald

Frederick Brownell Frederick Gordon Brownell } (8 March 1940 – 10 May 2019) was a South African herald, vexillologist, and genealogist. He designed the flags of Namibia and South Africa. Family and early life Brownell was born in Bethlehem, in what was th ...

designed the Janus Knight for the MSSA. The logo is made up of the following aspects: The double-headed knight chess piece: The knight chess piece is already an international symbol for army battle school. The symbol represents tactical and strategic thought and training. By making the symbol a double-headed knight, it also incorporates the concepts of considering the opponent's moves and shows the mental versatility of gamers. The circle: The circle represents the rules to which all the games are played, and the unity of all the games that the MSSA represents.

Disciplines and games under the jurisdiction of the MSSA

In terms of its Constitution, Mind Sports South Africa caters for a wide variety of Mind Sports in South Africa, such as: Board gaming *

Backgammon Backgammon is a two-player board game played with counters and dice on tables boards. It is the most widespread Western member of the large family of tables games, whose ancestors date back nearly 5,000 years to the regions of Mesopotamia and Pe ...

Draughts Checkers (American English), also known as draughts (; British English), is a group of strategy board games for two players which involve diagonal moves of uniform game pieces and mandatory captures by jumping over opponent pieces. Checkers ...

(Anglo-American, Pool Checkers and International) *

Morabaraba ''Morabaraba'' is a traditional two-player strategy board game played in South Africa and Botswana with a slightly different variation played in Lesotho. The game is known by many names in many languages, including ''mlabalaba'', ''mmela'' (in S ...

(also known as Mlabalaba) * Moruba * SesothoMorabaraba * Speed Stacking Card gaming Figure gaming * Ancients (3000 BC to 1500 AD) * Pike & Shot (1500 AD to 1700 AD) * Horse & Musket (1700 to 1845) *

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

(1939 to 1945) eSports * Console gaming * Mobile gaming * PSP gaming * Personal computer gaming Robotics

How games are chosen

Every year the MSSA holds an Annual General Meeting (AGM)directly after the South African National Championships. It is at such AGM that the games to be played in the Esports Discipline are selected by the member clubs.

Esports titles to be played at 2021 Provincial and National Championships

Esports titles to be played at 2021 Online School Championships

Esports titles to be played at 2021 High School LAN Provincial and National Championships

State awards

* In 2002, David Hlophe received the President's Award (Silver Class) from the President, Mr Thabo Mbeki, at the President's residence in Cape Town. * In 2003, Rhonnie Manana and Thabo Mokoena were finalists at the South African Sports Awards. * In 2007, Berneice Ligault and Amanda Kwaza were also finalists at the South African Sports Awards. * in 2013, Simphiwe Maphumulo was the recipient of the Indigenous Sports Star of the Year award at the S A Sports Awards.

Other awards

* In 2005, Colin Webster was a recipient of the Ekuhurleni Outstanding Sports Administrator Award * In 2010, Barry Booysen was a recipient of the Ekuhurleni Volunteer of the Year Award * In 2013, Morizane Boyes was the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award at the Spar GSport Awards * In 2014, Lubabalo Kondlo was a finalist in the Eastern Cape Provincial Sportsman of the Year Awards * In 2014, Kyle Wolmarans was a finalist in the Eastern Cape Provincial Media Person of the Year Awards

Management Board Awards

World champions produced

South Africa has produced the following world champions:

Medal winners

South Africa has produced the following medal winners in international championships:

World Championships attended

Official Ranking after IeSF World Championships

Official eSports Tri-Nation Test matches

The following online events were held by member associations and under the jurisdiction of the IeSF:

Official Test matches

The following Test matches were held:

IESF Good governance ranking

Committee members

MSSA has had the following committee members for the period 2005 to present:

South Africans who have served on international committees

The following South Africans have served on international committees:

Affiliations to international federations

Mind Sport South Africa is affiliated to the following international federations: * International eSports Federation * International Wargames Federation *

World Draughts Federation The Fédération Mondiale du Jeu de Dames (FMJD, World Draughts Federation) is the international body uniting national draughts federations. It was founded in 1947 by four Federations: France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. Members ...

FMJD

References

External links

South African Sports Confederation and Olympic CommitteeThe International Wargames FederationThe FMJD International eSports FederationMind Sports South Africa GSports for Girls
* ttp://www.sportstrader.co.za/Pages/Issue%20articles/IndustryNews/SportNews.php Sports Traderbr>ANC NewsbriefMail & Guardian "SA leads gaming industry"ITWebWitness ThisRoodepoort NewsNorthcliff Melville NewsSandton NewsCenturion NewsMWEBWitness Newspaper PMB game ace aiming highSports Trader MSSA sues South African Minister of SportDie Beeld (A national Afrikaans newspaper)Die Beeld MSSA lays corruption charges against South African Minister of SportDie Beeld "Barry Booysen wins award from Erkurhuleni City Council"

Esports Tournaments
{{Sports governing bodies in South Africa Sports science Games of mental skill Sport in South Africa Sports governing bodies in South Africa Esports governing bodies Draughts organizations