​Thembisa Shologu
Great mentorship, a drive to inspire others, and a never-say-die spirit have kept gold medalist Colin Venter from letting his disability get the best of him. 
Colin was born into a deaf-dominant family. He and his brother wear hearing aids and communicate using sign language. 
His love for cricket is family-rooted, as his father, uncle, and brother have all represented Gauteng Deaf Cricket and Deaf Cricket South Africa. 
"I started playing cricket at a very young age, participating and playing with and against adults, and my love for the game developed. I had great mentorship around cricket, including my family, who played with them for a few years, making overcoming most challenges easy. 
"The only challenges we had playing against hearing teams were communications and on-field issues. Deaf Cricket is still developing, and we are striving to ensure the next generation has the least challenges," said the 35-year-old.
He first played for the South African Deaf Cricket Team in 2011 and was appointed captain in 2016. 
Colin's career highlights include becoming the first athlete to win Cricket South Africa's (CSA) Hearing-Impaired Cricket Player of the Year award three times.
He is also a two-time Maccabi Games gold medalist and was named Gauteng Sportsman of the Year with a Disability in 2015.
Reflecting on his journey, he added, "The first time I stepped on the field to play professionally, it was an exhilarating feeling knowing that I got to represent the provincial and national teams. 
"There was a lot of nervousness, which eventually became excitement as the matches continued," said the Olympic medalist.
On Thursday, 31 October 2024, MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Matome Chiloane announced 57 finalists, including Venter, for the 13th edition of the Gauteng Sports Awards. There are 20 categories, including the most anticipated Sports Personality of the Year category from five finalists.
Each finalist receives R15 000, while category winners will receive an additional R25 000. The Sports Personality of the Year will also drive away in a brand-new car.
After being involved with Deaf Cricket for the past twenty years, Colin said it is very honourable to be nominated. 
"I want this nomination to inspire children, teens, and adults with disabilities to get involved with cricket and sports and to know that anything is possible. 
"Nothing is stopping you from achieving what you want. The biggest disability is not our disability; the biggest disability is the attitude. We all need to change our attitude to achieve what we want; that is the driving force to living with disabilities," added Colin.
The awards will also spotlight 25-year-old boxer Sivenathi Nontshinga, who was nominated for Sportsman of the Year. 
Growing up in Duncan Village, where boxing was the primary sport, Sivenathi 's journey into the ring was fueled by passion and determination. 
Despite limited resources, he became a two-time IBF light-flyweight world champion, holding the title from 2022 to 2023 and from February to October 2024. 
"Being in the ring for the first time felt so good because it was a dream come true, and I knew that it was a steppingstone, and I needed to do more," said the 25-year-old. 
Except for his dream to become a boxing champion one day, his other aspirations are to become a businessman and a positive role model who can change the lives of others.
He thanked the Gauteng Department of Sport for the nomination, saying, It feels fantastic and humbles me to be part of this great initiative."
The prestigious glitz event will be held on 24 November 2024. 
All the winners will automatically be entered into the South African Sports Awhe's later this year.
MEC Chiloane" said this year's awards had many achievements to celebrate.
"This year, we have remarkable success stories to celebrate. We want to honour these achievements and encourage our youth to pursue their passions, steering them away from the streets and toward greatness," said Chiloane.