16/10/2026
Today we focus on Karatika Sandile Makwali.
Sandile is definately one of the seasoned athletes and have been with us for a very long time.
Sandile Nelson Makwali
Born: 19 November 1986
Home language Xhosa
History of my Karate career
I am a black belt karate instructor at Shotokan Karate Academy here in Bloemfontein affiliated with WSKF and Karate South Africa.
My Free State level achievements:
I used to fight in the under 75kg weight class won first place from the year 2009 till 2019 in the under 75 kg the only year I did not win was 2013.
Style achievements under JKA:
Gold medalist in 2005 for the men’s purple and brown belt in kumite.
2009 SAJKA men under 25 years black belt kumite bronze medalist and Gold medal the following year 2010.
SAJKA men’s open 18-34 years:
I won a gold medal in the following years
2012 , 2014 and 2017.
Silver medal for the following years
2013 and 2016
Bronze medal for the following years
2015 and 2019
I was a member of the Free State team which won the men’s team events for 9 times in a row as a captain in 6 of those years
SAJKA WKF rules championship:
Champion for the duration of the competition which run only for three years
2009-2011.
Karate South Africa:
As a senior athlete I was a National champion for 7 times, and won 11 silver medals in the KSA events and 13 bronze medals.
All these championships where hosted by Karate South Africa between the period of 2011 & 2022
In 2023 I moved over to the veterans division in which I have a winning record of 100 %
South African open tournaments:
Engles challenge gold kumite bronze kata
Cape Town open gold kumite.
Karate super leagues:
4 Gold medals
2 Silver medals
3 Bronze medals
1 Bronze medal in kata
International Championships:
Botswana open
Bronze medal for 2013 and 2014
Silver medal 2015
Africa JKA cup
Gold medal men’s open and gold medal for team SA.
Banzai cup (Germany)
Silver medal men’s u75
Bronze medal in open weight
Bronze medal in team events
World shotocup Ireland lost in the quarter finals out of 196 participants, I was ranked 5th place.
Region south ( Zone 6)
Bronze medal for kumite im Zambia 2013
Silver medal kumite in Namibia 2014
Bronze medal kumite in South Africa 2015
Bronze medal kumite South Africa 2025
Team South Africa won the team events 4 times, with me as part of the team.
All Africa games, Congo Brazzaville:
Silver medal in kumite u75kg 2015
UFAK championship Senegal Dakar
U75 bronze and team kumite bronze
Commonwealth championship
Champion in the u84kg 2018
Team sa bronze medal in team events
WSKF world championships Japan 2023
Men’s open kumite bronze medal
Veterans kumite silver medal
Team kumite bronze medal
Sports endorsements:
Free State Karate male achiever
2012 to 2019.
Best international results male
2017-2019.
Voted best fighter in SA in Senegal Dakar
Player of the year in SA 2018.
Nominated for Free State Sports men of the year 2018 was one of the finalist.
Achieved player of the tournament in the Commonwealth championship 2018.
Recently qualified as a kata and kumite coach at UFAK in Algeria.
My motto: I refuse to be what you call normal it’s just a term to be used by lazy people!
