The highly anticipated finals of the Roedean School Prestige Cup are set to take place on 11 October 2025, which promise an epic conclusion to this year’s tournament.
Now in its 15th year, the event has not only grown far beyond just a water polo competition but has also established itself as a powerful vehicle for change.
As a result, it unites schools across Johannesburg in the collective mission to prevent drowning and promote water safety.
Drowning Statistics in South Africa
According to the South African Epidemiological Study of Fatal Drownings: 2016–2021 (published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in 2022), South Africa, on average, experiences 1,477 fatal drownings a year. Consequently, this results in a drowning rate of 2.54 people per 100,000 individuals.
The importance of swimming education cannot be overstated, particularly in under-resourced communities.
Community Partnerships in Prestige Cup
That is why participation in the Prestige Cup comes with a deeper responsibility: every school in the tournament is mandated to partner with a school from a low-income area to work together to offer water safety training, swimming lessons and mentorship.
This year’s participating schools and their community partners include:
Prestige Cup Participating Schools and Partners
- Reddam House Bedfordview paired with Tokoza Learn-to-Swim
- St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls paired with Emaromeni Catholic Primary School
- Kingsmead College paired with Parkhurst Primary School
- Crawford International paired with Witkoppen Primary School
- St Mary’s Waverley paired with HA Jack Primary School
- St Stithians College paired with Thandulwazi Maths and Science Academy
- Roedean School (SA) paired with Roedean Academy (an initiative providing additional tuition to scholars from under-resourced schools – Barnato Park High School and Newgate College)
- Roedean School (SA) paired with Johannesburg Girls Primary School
- Beaulieu College paired with Diepsloot Primary School
Tournament Progress and Preparation
The first round of the tournament took place in February. During this stage, Roedean, St Stithians and Beaulieu emerged as top scorers.
Since then, after months of focused training, these teams are now preparing to face off in a high-stakes final. Notably, the event promises both strategic play and fast-paced action.
Impact of the Learn-to-Swim Programme
Through the Learn-to-Swim programme, an accredited children’s swimming programme launched by Roedean School, more than 10,000 children have received water safety training since inception, with 1,000 pupils currently participating across Johannesburg.
Prestige Cup: True Victory Beyond the Scoreboard
When the final whistle blows this October, the Prestige Cup will not only add to the goals on the scoreboard, but will also save lives and inspire young people—revealing where the true victory lies.
This annual event is helping reverse the drowning statistics in South Africa through the transformative power of sport, community partnership and proactive action. For more insights into water safety initiatives and the complete study behind South Africa’s drowning statistics, explore the original research at www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/22/14675.
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