South African wheelchair basketball is reaching new international heights with national team athletes Ayabonga Jim and Shane Williams securing professional contracts in Spain for BSR Mucia and Xola Yalezo signing in France for Handi Sud Basket Marseille and young Sphelele Dlamini (national team squad player) playing in France for Clube Lannion, a major milestone for the sport and a powerful signal of South Africa’s growing global presence.
These achievements are the result of years of discipline, sacrifice and elite performance, supported by a long-standing development ecosystem enabled through Sasol’s 18-year partnership with Wheelchair Basketball South Africa (WBSA). Together, Sasol and WBSA have worked to create pathways that allow differently abled athletes to compete, lead and succeed on the world stage.
All three athletes have played a central role in strengthening South Africa’s wheelchair basketball footprint through national team representation, leadership and consistently high standards of play. Their international progression not only elevates the profile of the sport locally, but also inspires emerging talent and positions South Africa as a respected force in global wheelchair basketball.
That same spirit of possibility is reflected in the journey of Michelle Moganedi, captain of the South African Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team. Introduced to the sport during rehabilitation following an accident, Moganedi has gone on to represent South Africa internationally, lead the national team, complete a degree in extraction metallurgy through Sasol’s bursary programme, and is now building her professional career at Sasol through a learnership in Information Management.
These individual success stories are underpinned by Sasol’s long-term commitment to wheelchair basketball. As the only sponsor of the sport in South Africa, Sasol supports junior and senior national teams, officials and development initiatives through the Sasol Technical Excellence Programme, ensuring athletes are equipped to thrive both on and off the court.
Reflecting on the athletes’ achievements, Nozipho Mlambo, Senior Manager: Group Brand and Sponsorships, said: “We are incredibly proud to see our athletes pushing boundaries and living the impossible on international stages. Their journeys demonstrate what can be achieved when talent is matched with opportunity, support and determination. At Sasol, our commitment goes beyond sponsorship, it’s about enabling inclusion and fuelling potential in a way that creates lasting impact.”
As Sasol and WBSA, the focus remains on expanding access, deepening development pathways and elevating the visibility of wheelchair basketball across communities and platforms.
From European professional contracts to national leadership and academic success, South Africa’s wheelchair basketball athletes continue to #LiveTheImpossible, opening doors for the next generation to believe, compete and belong.
