A veritable “who’s who” of South African sport gathered to officially launch the 2026 Telkom Netball League at the Southern Sun Sandton on 14 April 2026.
From the keynote address by Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, to the presence of Gauteng MEC Lebogang Maile, the room was united around one message: it is time for South Africa’s netball athletes to #StandTall.
A defining moment of the launch came when Telkom Chief Marketing Officer, Gugu Mthembu, announced a two-year renewal of Telkom’s partnership with Netball South Africa, extending support for both the Telkom Netball League and the Telkom Netball Championships.
“The Telkom Netball League has become one of the most important platforms in South African sport. It is where talent is discovered, where players are tested, and where future Proteas are first seen.”
Telkom Chief Marketing Officer, Gugu Mthembu
Mthembu positioned the TNL as a cornerstone of the women’s game, noting that “the Telkom Netball League has become one of the most important platforms in South African sport,” where talent is discovered, tested, and developed into future Proteas.
She reinforced Telkom’s long-term vision, adding that “our role in netball has never simply been about supporting a league… it has always been about supporting the full journey of the game.”
Through the continuation of the #StandTall: From First Pass to Crown campaign, that journey remains central. As Mthembu highlighted, “Stand Tall is about making sure that the people behind the game are not just supported but truly seen.
From that very first pass at grassroots level, through school competitions and development pathways, to the Telkom Netball League, and ultimately, to the players who go on to represent South Africa on the international stage. That journey is what matters to us, and it is what we are committed to enabling.
Former Proteas captain Bongi Msomi, now stepping into coaching, reflected on what the campaign means beyond the court:
“I’ve been part of the StandTall campaign between 2022 and 2023, and I retired in 2023 and to come back here as now not a player anymore but a coach. I want to say StandTall gives me a chance firstly to go through Telkom, and actually give back as much as I can.”
2025 Telkom Netball League Defending Champs Golden Fireballs Coach, Bongi Msomi
The initiative continues to shine a light on the journeys of players, coaches, and rising stars, many of whom begin on community and school courts before progressing to the national stage.
With the inclusion of invitational teams from Malawi and Zimbabwe, the 2026 season is expected to further raise the level of competition while expanding the league’s reach across Africa.
Power Weeks 1 and 2 matches will take place across Durban and Johannesburg, showcasing both established names and the next generation of talent, with the venue for the Final Week to be confirmed.
For gsport, this was more than another season launch. Since Telkom became the TNL naming rights partner in 2019, the gsport Newsroom has been there to document the growth of the league and the women who continue to shape it.
Through Telkom’s partnership with gsport, we have moved beyond match results to tell the full story of netball in South Africa. From rising stars to seasoned icons, and from first pass to crown.
As the countdown begins to the opening matches in Durban on 24 April, we remain committed to telling the stories that matter.
Tell us: which netball story should we amplify next?
#TNL2026 #StandTall #TelkomNetball
Main Photo Caption: Netball leaders and government officials gathered at the Southern Sun Sandton to launch the 2026 Telkom Netball League, affirming their commitment to growing women’s netball across South Africa through the StandTall campaign at the Southern Sun Sandton on 14 April 2026. All Photos: Netball SA
Photo 2 Caption: Mami Diale, Netball South Africa President, said: “The Telkom Netball League continues to be the heartbeat of netball in South Africa.”
Photo 3 Caption: Golden Fireballs coach and #TelkomStandTall Ambassador Bongi Msomi spoke about the significance of the campaign giving back to South African netball.
Photo 4 Caption: Telkom CMO Gugu Mthembu addressed guests on the importance of the TNL platform for discovering, testing, and developing future Spar Proteas.
Photo 5 Caption: As a long-term partner of South African netball, Telkom’s involvement forms part of a broader commitment to growing the game at every level, from grassroots development to the national stage.
