The finalists for the 2018 Gauteng Sport Awards were announced by MEC for Gauteng Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Ms. Faith Mazibuko on Friday 03 August.  Speaking at the event, hosted by the Green Hills Stadium in Johannesburg, MEC Mazibuko said she was excited by the reception from communities, who came forward in numbers to submit their nominations.  Yet again we want to honour the sung and unsung sporting stars of Gauteng, who give us confidence to acclaim the province as the Home of Champions, said Mazibuko. The list and type of nominees received shows the growth of the Gauteng Sport Awards especially in reaching community and development sport”.  More than rewarding these stars, we want to show our appreciation of their talents and dedication to the course (sport), to which former President Nelson Mandela described as having ‘power to inspire and unite people in a way that little else does'.  This year's finalists were shortlisted by a panel of independent adjudicators, represented by individuals from the media, academic and sporting fraternity. Futshane Consulting Pty (Ltd) has been appointed as the auditors to monitor this process.  Launched under the theme ‘Celebrating Excellence, Inspiring the Youth', this year's nomination process took place between 7 June and 7 July 2018, with members of the public submitting their nominations at various outlets across the province.  In keeping with this year's theme, the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in Gauteng will also be celebrating the iconic centenary of former President Nelson Mandela, as well as Albertina Sisulu, both of whom were actively and avidly involved in boxing and tennis, respectively.  The winners will be announced at a gala awards dinner at Silverstar Casino on Sunday, 02 September 2018.  Guests from the sporting fraternity, business and entertainment industry will come together to celebrate the outstanding achievements and excellence that Gauteng athletes, sport officials, sport fans and the media have demonstrated.  The finalists are:   - Maria Combrink: Athletics - Kgothatso Montjane: Wheelchair Tennis - Khethiwe Zulu: Wheelchair Basketball   - Steven Walgenbach: Wheelchair Basketball - Jacques Joubert: Judo - Neo Ndlovu: Athletics   - Central Gauteng Blind Cricket Team - Gauteng Wheelchair Basketball Senior Men's Team - Northern's Deaf Team   - Willem Jacobus (Jaco) Coetzer: Valke/Falcons Rugby Union - Siyabonga Ndlovu: Gauteng Sport Association for the Physically Disabled and Visually Impaired - Moonira Ramathula: Football   - Daphne Dawn Bird: Aquatics - Charmaine Ho: Archery - Mpho Mokhoba: Tennis   - Bianca Meyer: Rugby (Blue Bulls Rugby Union) - Jesdel Kayembe Passua-Nzambi: Boxing - Wandisile Simelane: Athletics - Dalane Bhekani Dube: Volleyball   - Pimville Stars Football Academy Senior Team - Troyeville Primary School U/13 Boys Volleyball Team - Superfins Swimming Club   - Soweto TV - Mapepeza Community Media – Print media - Pheli FM   - Alwande Skhosana: Wheelchair Tennis - Fernando Booysen: Wrestling (Hoerskool Hugenoot) - Caitlin Bentley: Rowing   - Charles Baloyi: Media 24 - Obed Philips: Caxton Newspapers - Mihlali Baleka: Independent Media   - Mpho Makhoba: Hockey and Football - Faith and Hope Foundation: Football and Netball - Moonira Ramathula   - Nico Coetzee: Wrestling - Jenny van Dyk: Netball - Nkosilathi Moyo: Volleyball   - Mamello Constance Makha: Football - Mmakgabo Maheya: Football - Melanie Ramjee: Special Olympics South Africa   - Gauteng Jaguars Netball Premier League Team – Netball - Motor Sport South Africa – Motorsport - Johannesburg Spikers Volleyball Academy Men's Senior Team – Volleyball   - Kagiso Rabada: Cricket - Lungi Ngidi: Cricket - Aphiwe Dyantyi: Rugby - Martin Erasmus: Wrestling   - Kirsten McCann: Rowing - Refiloe Jane: Football - Danelle Wentzel: Archery  Life time achievement awards  The following categories are determined through public voting:   - Kgothatso Montjane: Wheelchair Tennis (Sport 09) - Kagiso Rabada: Cricket (Sport 01) - William Mokgopo: Cycling (Sport 06) - Refiloe Jane: Football (Sport 10)   - Mamello Constance Makha: Football (Sport 07) - Mmakgabo Maheya: Football (Sport 05) - Melanie Ramjee: Special Olympics South Africa (Sport 03)   - Withziro2six: Kasie FM (Sport 08) - Dlala Mzansi: Soweto TV (Sport 02) - The Home Straight (Sport 04)  To vote for your favourite, SMS ‘Sport' followed by your nominee code (eg. Sport 02 for Dlala Mzansi) to 49497, SMS's charged at R1.50 (free SMS's do not apply).  There is no limit to the number of SMS's sent per cellphone number. The competition runs from 2nd August to 2nd September 2018 17h00, T&C's apply.   - R7500 per finalist (up from R5000 last year) - R15,000 for the winner per category - Sport Personality Award winner will receive R50,000 - The Life Time Achiever award recipient will receive R50,000