On August, 8 2026, the Wits Sports Council (WSC) along with the All-Residence Council (ARC) hosted the second David Webster Cup since the competition resumed after the Covid-19 pandemic. This year’s tournament had a twist, with Wits residences competing in 12 different sporting codes, in the fight for res bragging rights and the David Webster Cup.
- Wits Sports Council adopts Amazing Race format for the annual David Webster Cup.
- 12 Sporting codes were showcased to Wits students.
- This new format allowed for more inclusivity within the Wits sporting community.
The 2026 David Webster Cup was held at the University of the Witwatersrand’s Sturrock Park, where a new ‘Amazing Race’ format was introduced. While the tournament would previously consist of three to four sporting codes, this year it adopted an ‘Amazing Race’ style format, where each residence team could participate in 12 different sporting challenges.
Every residence had the opportunity to complete a challenge at each sporting code station located around Sturrock Park and the Wits Science Stadium. The residence who collected the most points from all these stations, was crowned David Webster Cup winners, with West Campus Village taking this year’s cup.
The purpose of this format was to show Wits students that there are more sports than just football, rugby and netball. Twelve other sporting codes were put on display at this year’s Webster Cup such as snow skiing, boxing, yachting, fencing, and tai chi. “A bunch of students came and said that they did not even know snow ski existed on campus,” Lethabo Rabothata, Gender Equity and Transformation Officer, told Wits Vuvuzela. “It’s actually fulfilling to see that.”
The new competition format also aimed to address gender inequality within sports, which existed at previous David Webster Cups. “The real impact that we saw is the (previous) set up of sporting codes presenting us with gender inequalities. It made more sense to do an Amazing Race where everyone is equal and anyone can participate in anything, as opposed to a netball challenge where Men’s Res does not have a team for,” Mamela Nyandeni, Wits Sports Council Chairperson, told Wits Vuvuzela.
Oratile Lesia, the Sports Officer from the All-Residences Council (ARC), said that the ARC played the role of being the bridge between the Wits residences and Wits Sports. The David Webster Cup aimed to foster greater integration between student residence culture and Wits entities such as Wits Sports. “Showcasing this in the David Webster Cup is like merging the two entities together to become one, and to express ourselves beyond our households,” said Lesia.
By showcasing different sporting codes beyond mainstream sports, Azania Jack, a participant from Men’s Res, expressed how as a basketball player he found water polo the most challenging. “It is such a foreign sport to me,” Jack said. Fulufhelo Nengwekgulu from Noswall Hall Residence said that “Mountain climbing was nice, although it was quite difficult, but I enjoyed it as well”.
Although the David Webster Cup was an overall success, the WSC was faced with the challenge of attendance. While 10 residences were set to compete in the tournament, two withdrew on the morning of the event. Nyandeni expressed that despite this challenge, the ‘Amazing Race’ format allowed adjustments to be made to avoid any major setbacks on the day of the tournament.
FEATURED IMAGE: West Campus Village Residence celebrating. By Zebrena Ralph
RELATED STORIES:
- Wits Vuvuzela, Wits Sports Council commemorates Dr David Webster with a sports derby, September 2017.
- Wits Vuvuzela, Bridging sports separation: Wits athletes team up in the WSC Amazing Race Games, April 2026.
