Kriel – In community halls and sport arenas across Mpumalanga, one woman’s vision is reshaping how sport empowers women and youth. At just 31 years old, Anna Eunice Sibeko is turning passion into progress and movement into change.
As the Women in Sport and Gender Commissioner for the Mpumalanga Sports Confederation, Sibeko is breaking barriers and building platforms for others to rise.
Under Sibeko’s influence, the province has seen a surge in female leadership in sport with female coaches in Emalahleni excelling in youth football and netball, a thriving grassroots girls’ rugby programme in Nkangala led by a seminar alumnus and inclusive sport festivals now feature mixed-gender leadership panels and youth ambassadors.
“These are not just success stories, they are proof that when women are given platforms, they build empires,” she says.
From the karate mats of her childhood to the ballroom floors where she found her voice, her journey is one of resilience and revolution.
Sibeko grew up in a family where sport was more than recreation, it was a way of life. “I grew up in a home led by a sportsman. My father is a sensei, so being involved in sport was not negotiable. He wanted us to do something meaningful with our lives and for me, sport was it,” she says.
Her journey began in 2003 with karate, a discipline that taught her focus, confidence and perseverance. In 2006, she discovered Ballroom and Latin dance sport where she found both passion and purpose.
“Once I joined the dance sport, I never looked back, it became the platform where I could express myself and empower others,” she says.
Today, she serves as Competitions Director and Chairperson of the Dance Sport Federation in Mpumalanga, overseeing events, nurturing young talent and ensuring fairness and inclusion in competitions.
Sibeko’s work extends far beyond the dance. She coordinates provincial initiatives, mentors emerging leaders and drives conversations around gender equity in sport governance.
“I lead with both heart and structure. Empathy helps me connect with people and strategy helps me build sustainable systems that reflect real, lived experiences,” she says.
One of her most notable achievements is the Women in Sport Seminar, held on 23 August 2025 at Secunda Sasol Hall. The seminar has led to several key outcomes where women achievements are recognised, implementation of gender-responsive budgeting and inclusive leadership and the rise of young women seeking mentorship.
“Seeing women share their stories and uplift one another was transformative,” she reflects. “It reaffirmed my belief that representation is not enough; women need voice, agency and power.”
Her advocacy is not measured by events but by policy shifts, leadership representation and mentorship engagement. Yet she never loses sight of the human stories: the confidence, courage and collaboration rippling through communities.
To sustain momentum, Sibeko credits her partnerships with the Mpumalanga Sports Confederation, local municipalities and NGOs that have been vital in keeping initiatives alive beyond events.
Through workshops and dialogues, she engages men as champions for gender equity in sport. “Change doesn’t happen overnight. Some institutions are slow to move, but persistence builds progress. Every conversation plants a seed,” she says.
She believes that achieving gender equity is about collaboration not confrontation. “Men are crucial allies,” she notes. “When they challenge bias, mentor women and advocate for fairness, transformation accelerates. Equality benefits everyone.”
Sibeko envisions a province and a nation where women in sport are fully celebrated, funded and empowered. “I want girls to grow up seeing role models who look like them,” she shares. “I want them to know that sport belongs to them too.”
For Sibeko, legacy isn’t about titles, it’s about transformation. “I want to be remembered as a catalyst,” she says firmly. “Someone who didn’t just advocate, but activated change. A leader who built platforms for women’s voices and left behind a legacy of inclusion, excellence and hope.”
