South Africa competed at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London with a team of 62 athletes and finished 18th on the medal table.
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), which is the National Paralympic Committee of South Africa, announced a team of 62 competitors for the 2012 Paralympics on 20 June 2012. The team of 45 men and 17 women were accompanied by 45 managers, coaches and other support staff. SASCOC released the team's schedule on 17 August 2012.
In a surprise announcement in London on 8 September the South African Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula said that Paralympic medal winners and their coaches would receive the same performance bonuses that their Olympic counterparts were promised. The amounts initially promised were significantly lower. The minister said the original plan was discriminatory.
Medalists
The following South African competitors won medals at the games.
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Medal Name Sport Event Date Swimming Women's 100 m butterfly S9 30 August Swimming Men's 100 m freestyle S11 31 August Swimming Men's 100 m butterfly S10 1 September Athletics Men's 100 m T13 1 September Athletics Men's 100 m T35 1 September Swimming Men's 50 m freestyle S13 1 September Athletics Men's 100 m T38 1 September Athletics Women's 200 m T46 1 September Swimming Men's 100 m freestyle S13 2 September Athletics Men's 200 m T44 2 September Swimming Men's 100 m backstroke S13 3 September Athletics Men's 400 m T38 3 September Athletics Men's shot put F57–58 4 September Swimming Women's 400 m freestyle S9 4 September Swimming Women's 100 m backstroke S10 4 September Athletics Men's long jump F37–38 5 September Athletics 4 × 100 m relay T42–46 5 September Swimming Women's 200 m individual medley SM9 6 September Athletics Men's 400 m T12 6 September Athletics Women's 100 m T13 6 September Athletics Men's 100 m T44 6 September Swimming Women's 100 m freestyle S9 7 September Cycling Men's road race H4 7 September Athletics Women's long jump F13 7 September Athletics Men's 200 m T38 8 September Swimming Men's 100 m breaststroke SB9 8 September Athletics Men's 100 m T37 8 September Athletics Women's 400 m T46 8 September Athletics Men's 400 m T44 8 September
| style="text-align:left; width:22%; vertical-align:top;"| Medals by sportSportTotalSwimming44311Athletics47617Cycling0101Total812929
Athletics
South African track and field athletes won a combined 17 medals at the Games, four gold, seven silver and six bronze. Sprinter Oscar Pistorius, who carried the nation's flag at the opening ceremony, was the most successful South African athlete winning individual gold in the T44 400 metres, gold in the 4 × 100 metres relay T42–46, setting world records in both, and individual silver in the T44 200 metres. In the 200 metres event Pistorius set a new world record in his heat, but he was defeated in the final by Brazilian Alan Oliveira. After the race Pistorius raised an issue about the length of Oliveira's blades, he later apologised for the timing of his remarks, but not the content of his complaint. The IPC confirmed the length of Oliveira's blades were proportional to his body and legal, but expressed willingness to engage with Pistorius about the issue.
Men—track AthleteEventsHeatSemifinalFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTshepo Bhebe400 m T4652.245align="center" colspan="2" did not advanceDyan Buis100 m T38align="center" colspan="4" 11.11 AF200 m T3822.57 AF1 Qalign="center" colspan="2" 22.51 AFAndrea Dalle Ave100 m T3712.18 PB=7align="center" colspan="2" did not advancePieter du Preez100 m T51align="center" colspan="4" 24.216Charl du Toit100 m T3712.115align="center" colspan="2" did not advance800 m T37align="center" colspan="4" 2:06.676Arnu Fourie100 m T4411.291 Qalign="center" colspan="2" 11.08 AF200 m T4422.57 WR2 Qalign="center" colspan="2" 22.49 WR4Hilton Langenhoven200 m T1222.44 SB1 Q22.24 PB1 Q22.294400 m T1249.861 Q49.42 =PB1 Q49.04 PBTeboho Mokgalagadi100 m T3513.072 Qalign="center" colspan="2" 13.10200 m T3527.37 PB2 Qalign="center" colspan="2" 27.02 PB5Jan Nehro (guide: Duane Fortuin)5000 m T11align="center" colspan="4" 16:09.51 SB6Jonathan Ntutu100 m T1311.00 AF1 Qalign="center" colspan="2" 11.03200 m T1322.40 AF1 Qalign="center" colspan="2" 22.37 AF6Oscar Pistorius100 m T4411.18 SB1 Qalign="center" colspan="2" 11.174200 m T4421.30 WR1 Qalign="center" colspan="2" 21.52400 m T4448.31 SB1 Qalign="center" colspan="2" 46.68 PRSamkelo Radebe100 m T4611.536align="center" colspan="2" did not advanceUnion Sekailwe200 m T3824.01 PB3 Qalign="center" colspan="2" 23.66 PB6400 m T3853.283 Qalign="center" colspan="2" 51.97 PBMarius Stander400 m T3853.521 Qalign="center" colspan="2" 53.626Fanie van der Merwe100 m T3711.52 =WR1 Qalign="center" colspan="2" 11.51 WR200 m T3723.832 Qalign="center" colspan="2" 23.796Oscar PistoriusArnu FourieSamkelo RadebeZivan Smith4 × 100 m relay T42–46align="center" colspan="4" 41.78 WR
Men—field AthleteEventsResultRankDyan BuisLong jump F37–386.48 =WRAndrea Dalle AveLong jump F37–386.02 AF5Michael LouwrensShot put F57–5813.64Casper SchutteJavelin F4248.12 AF4Union SekailweLong jump F37–385.1010Duane StrydomDiscus F35–3635.648
Women—track AthleteEventsHeatSemifinalFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankAnrune Liebenberg200 m T4625.79 AF2 Qalign="center" colspan="2" 25.55 AF400 m T46align="center" colspan="4" 56.65 PBIlse Hayes100 m T13;12.632 Qalign="center" colspan="2" 12.41Anika Pretorius100 m T13;13.11 SB3 Qalign="center" colspan="2" 13.508
Women—field AthleteEventsResultRankIlse HayesLong jump F135.70Zandile NhlapoJavelin F33–34&52-5315.43 SB8Shot put F32–346.41 SB12Anika PretoriusLong jump F13DNSZanele SituJavelin F54–5616.224Chenelle van ZylDiscus F35–3624.576Shot put F35–367.839
Management Team Manager: Dion Bishop Coaches: Suzanne Ferreira, Zelda Hansen, Hennie Koekemoer, Karin le Roux, Ampie Louw Team assistant: Neels Matthyser Helper: Illse du Preez.
Cycling
Road
AthleteEventClassificationFinalTimeRankRoxanne BurnsWomen's time trialC432:39.246Madre CarinusMixed road raceT1/21:00:0010Mixed time trialT1/216:54.1612Stuart McCreadieMen's road raceH21:43:518Men's time trialH229:03.517Jaco NelMen's road raceC2DNFMen's time trialC228:12.4414Ernst van DykMen's road raceH42:00:33Men's time trialH426:35.955Gerhard ViljoenMixed road raceT1/248:374Mixed time trialT1/215:26.417
Track AthleteEventClassificationQualificationFinalTimeRankTimeRankRoxanne BurnsWomen's individual pursuitC44:40.8746did not advanceWomen's time trialC4/5align="center" colspan="2" 42.62111Jaco NelMen's individual pursuitC24:12.79410did not advanceMen's time trialC1/2/3align="center" colspan="2" 1:12.40511
Management team Manager: Mike Burns Coach: Ricky Kulsen Mechanic: Pieter Jansen.
Equestrian
A team of four represented South Africa in the equestrian competition, one man and three women, although Paralympic equestrian competition is not divided by gender. The competition consists of three dressage events, a championship test, a freestyle test and a team test. There are five competitor classes: Ia, Ib, II, III and IV, with Ia being the most and IV the least impaired.
Individual
AthleteHorseEventFinalResultRankAnthony DawsonRoffelaarIndividual championship test grade II64.57118Individual freestyle test grade II63.45016Philipa JohnsonLord LouisIndividual championship test grade IV65.77410Individual freestyle test grade IV67.20012Marion MilneShadowIndividual championship test grade Ib62.82613Individual freestyle test grade Ib63.55013Wendy MollerFirst Lady Van PrinsIndividual championship test grade II66.00015Individual freestyle test grade II69.9009
Team
AthleteHorseEventIndividual scoreTotalTotalScoreRankAnthony DawsonSee aboveTeam62.14364.571126.714387.97214Philipa Johnson63.12565.774128.899*Marion Milne65.81862.826128.644*Wendy Moller64.42966.000130.429* * Indicates the three best individual scores that count towards the team total. Management team Manager: Tracey Cumming Coach: Chris Haazen Vet: Sheelagh Higgerty Grooms: Enoch Cele, Anton Chimbuanda, Elizabeth Newsome, Teri Smith
Rowing
Qualification Key: FA=Final A (medal); FB=Final B (non-medal); R=Repechage
Athlete(s)EventHeatsRepechageFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankSandra KhumaloWomen's single sculls6:02.3856:13.234 FB6:18.882 B Management Manager/coach: Marco Galeone
Swimming
Natalie du Toit, a veteran of three Paralympics and one Olympics, announced her retirement from competitive swimming after this event. South Africa's first gold medal came from du Toit winning gold in the women's 100 m butterfly S9.
Men AthleteEventHeatFinalTimeRankTimeRankCharl Bouwer50 m freestyle S1324.36 AF2 Q23.99 AF100 m freestyle S1353.28 PB152.97 AF400 m freestyle S134:17.741 Q4:14.135100 m butterfly S1359.03 AF2 Q59.397100 m backstroke S131:01.161 Q59.92 AF200 m individual medley SM132:15.282 Q2:14.714Achmat Hassiem100 m freestyle S1057.617did not advance400 m freestyle S104:27.866did not advance100 m butterfly S1058.46 AF2 Q57.76 AFHendri Herbst50 m freestyle S1127.02 AF2 Q27.577100 m freestyle S1159.641 Q59.60400 m freestyle S115:08.87 AF4 Q4:59.51 AF7100 m backstroke S111:14.765did not advanceKevin Paul50 m freestyle S1025.49 AF4did not advance100 m freestyle S1055.55 AF5did not advance400 m freestyle S104:19.64 AF3 Q4:16.46 AF7100 m breaststrokeSB91:06.21 PR1 Q1:05.70 AF200 m individual medley SM102:14.97 AF1 Q2:15.264Tadhg Slattery100 m breaststroke SB51:39.553 Q1:39.165
Women AthleteEventHeatFinalTimeRankTimeRankRenette Bloem50 m freestyle S1138.00 AF7did not advance100 m freestyle S111:25.72 AF6did not advance100 m breaststroke SB111:40.616did not advance200 m individual medley SM113:37.135did not advanceNatalie du Toit50 m freestyle S930.163 Q29.847100 m freestyle S91:02.951 Q1:03.45400 m freestyle S94:32.591 Q4:30.18100 m backstroke S91:12.522 Q1:12.564100 m breaststroke SB81:30.244 Q1:30.857100 m butterfly S91:09.941 Q1:09.30200 m individual medley SM92:36.921 Q2:34.22Emily Gray100 m freestyle S91:08.816did not advance400 m freestyle S95:00.445 Q4:59.777100 m backstroke S91:15.594 Q1:16.657200 m individual medley SM92:54.036did not advanceMarike Naudé50 m freestyle S1332.077did not advance100 m freestyle S131:11.457did not advance100 m breaststroke SB131:46.577did not advanceShireen Sapiro50 m freestyle S1030.87 AF5did not advance100 m freestyle S101:07.42 AF8did not advance400 m freestyle S104:59.54 AF4 Q5:01.308100 m backstroke S101:09.461 Q1:09.02 AF100 m butterfly S10DNSdid not advance
Management team Manager: Queeneth Ndlovu Coach: Karoly Toros Coach/tapper: Karin Hugo Tapper/helper: Eeden Meyer
Wheelchair basketball
South Africa's men's wheelchair basketball team were in Group A with Australia, Italy, Spain, Turkey and the United States. Competing athletes are given an eight-level-score specific to wheelchair basketball, ranging from 0.5 to 4.5 with lower scores representing a higher degree of disability. The sum score of all players on the court cannot exceed 14.
Men's tournament
Squad list(classification points)Group stageQuarter-finalSemi-finalFinalOppositionResultRankOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankFrom: Justin Govender (1.0) Siphamandla Gumbi (2.5) Stuart Jellows (4.5) Kyle Louw (1.5) Luvuyo Mbande (3.5) Gift Mooketsi (2.5) Richard Nortje (4.5) Kobus Oeschger (2.5) Marius Papenfus (2.5) Marcus Retief (1.0) Samuel van Niekerk (2.5) Jaco Velloen (4.5)L 39–936did not advanceL 50–74L 29–91L 32–61L 54–79
Group stage
11th/12th place match
Management team Manager: Willie Riechert Coach: Patrick Fick Assistant coach: Shadrack Moepeng Technical coach: Franck Belen
Wheelchair tennis