2022
The South African Dance Foundation wishes to hereby announce to the South Africans in general and dancers/athletes in particular that the judgement handed down by the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria on 25TH of January 2022 regarding the status of Dance and DanceSport in South Africa is upheld by the same court. The Application for Leave to Appeal from “DSSA” was dismissed with costs on 24TH June 2022. This means that “Dancesport” is not allowed to take the Application on Appeal, as the learned Judge considered there to be no prospects that another Court will come to a different conclusion, should the matter be taken on appeal. Therefore, the prayers granted in favour of the South African Dance Foundation on 25THJanuary 2022 stand, that:
- The First Respondent (Thabo Phiri) and Second Respondent (DSSA) shall refrain from using the name DanceSport South Africa (DSSA).
- The First and Second Respondents shall refrain from presenting themselves as the custodians of dance in South Africa under the name DSSA.
- The First and Second Respondents shall refrain from organizing any Dance Competition or Championship at Provincial or National level with respect to the genres Ballroom, Latin, Freestyle, Disco, Hip Hop, Wheelchair or Disabled, Traditional, Social Dance style under the name DSSA.
The South African Dance Foundation is humbled by the judgement as it is viewed as a force for the unity of Dance as an Artform and Sport under one umbrella. South Africans can therefore be assured that this aim is not intended to divide the dancers/athletes, but to bring about a true transformation agenda. While the SADF strives for unity in Dance, we need to at all times comply with relevant laws and court orders.
Our goal remains the same since the first judgement of 2000, which is to administer, develop and promote dance as an art and sport in South Africa and to regulate all matters of dance under one umbrella. As such, the South African Dance Foundation will be meeting and talking to all dancers, all dance organisations, all dance supporters and sponsors to unify Dance on a national level. We extend a warm welcome to all the Dance Associations to join our progressive Dance Association.
The judgment is annexed hereto for ease of reference.
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ISSUED BY:
MEDIA AND LIAISON OFFICE
SOUTH AFRICAN DANCE FOUNDATION
