Tladi Moloi
BETHLEHEM – Katleho Success Mahlaba from Bohlokong near Bethlehem is the winner of this year’s South African Slalom Championships.
He won the race during the 2025 South African Slalom Canoe Championships that took place at the Bluesea Dam just above Sol Plaaitjie Dam in Bethlehem on Saturday.
This paddle sport event was hosted by the Dihlabeng Slalom Canoe Club, who were also the defending champions.
Athletes at the Bluesea Dam above Sol Plaaitjie Dam in Bethlehem during the 2025 South African Slalom Canoe Championships. PHOTO:SUPPLIED
About 25 athletes from Cape Town, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Free State took part in the competition. It was divided into categories, K1 and C1, for both males and females.
In other categories, Lindelani Ngidi won the C1 men category while Waris Mills from KwaZulu-Natal won the K1 women.
Mahlaba said defending the championship was not an easy task, but he was thrilled that he managed.
“I am so excited.
Being the SA Champ for the second time is a remarkable achievement. I am looking forward to qualifying for the Olympic Games,” he said.
He said he joined the club in 2006 and immediately fell in love with canoeing. He says he never hesitated to join because he could swim.
“I took part in many competitions and I was happy with my performance,” he said.
Mahlaba, who is working as a firefighter in Bethlehem, said he will keep on working hard regardless of the challenges he faces daily.
“I don’t have enough time to train because I am working Monday to Friday. But I always ensure that I give it my all when I get a chance.
“I want to thank my manager for the patience and belief that he has shown me over the years. The Club is struggling a lot because we don’t have sponsorships, and as a result, we are failing to afford to go overseas to honour some competition,” he said.
Ngidi, one of the organisers and also an athlete in the competition, said he was happy that the contest went well, even though they did not have a sponsor.
"The event went very well. I wasn't expecting it to be such an exquisite one. We did it, against all odds. It was not an easy task to run an event of such a magnitude without a sponsor. I had to use my car, money from my pocket, with some of the team members, Nkosi and Siboniso Cele, helping. That was for the love of the game, nothing else,” he said.
Ngidi, who is also a coach at the Dihlabeng Slalom Canoe Club, said it was not the first time they hosted SA champs.
“We have hosted the SA Championships before, and we even hosted the African Championship twice for Olympic selections, but this one was very stressful because we did not have a sponsor,” he said.
Dihlabeng Slalom Canoe Club started in 2006 with three athletes: Siboniso Cele, Lindelani Ngidi, and Cameron McIntosh. The trio started with a dream to promote a learn how to swim program as well as teach kids canoeing.
Since its inception, the team has grown, and it has more than 20 children training every week.
