At 72 years old, Nellie Makhathini has spent more than five decades shaping lives through education and netball. As the Provincial Manager of the Gauteng Schools Netball Committee under South African Schools Netball (SASN), she continues to play a key role in the PEP mini Netball programme, where she finds her greatest fulfilment not in the accolades she has earned, but in seeing the teachers and coaches she has mentored grow in confidence and put her teachings into practice.
Her journey began at the age of 19 when she started her teaching career. It was there that she discovered a passion for netball.
As the years passed, Makhathini realised that her greatest impact extended beyond developing players. She found purpose in empowering teachers and coaches, believing that equipping a single educator with the right skills creates opportunities for countless young players to benefit from that knowledge.
Throughout her career, she has held several leadership positions within South African Schools Netball (SASN), including Provincial Convener of Special Projects, Convener of Umpires and Deputy Provincial Convener, a role she held for more than a decade. While these positions allowed her to contribute to sport’s growth, her passion has always remained rooted in developing people.
Today, through the PEP mini Netball programme, Makhathini continues to present beginner coaching courses for teachers, helping them build the confidence and practical skills needed to introduce children to the game. Seeing those teachers return to their schools and apply what they have learnt is her greatest measure of success.
She believes netball is far more than a sport. It is a platform that builds discipline, leadership, teamwork, resilience and confidence while creating opportunities for young people to realise their full potential.
Reflecting on what has kept her involved in the game for more than 50 years, Makhathini said:
“My greatest reward is seeing the teachers and coaches I have mentored grow and use what they have learnt to make a difference in the lives of young players. When they succeed, I know the knowledge has been passed on, and that is the legacy I want to leave behind.”
Although she stepped away from formal leadership positions to create opportunities for younger leaders, she never stepped away from the game itself. Instead, she continues to volunteer her time and expertise, travelling across the province to support coaching and grassroots netball development.
Looking ahead, Makhathini hopes to continue sharing the knowledge she has gained over more than five decades in the sport, believing that investing in teachers and coaches today will strengthen the future of South African netball for generations to come.
For Makhathini, netball has never been about personal achievement. It has always been about people. Every teacher she mentors, every coach she inspires, and every child who steps onto a netball court with confidence is a reflection of the legacy she continues to build one teacher, one coach and one player at a time.
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