Highly rated FIFA, CAF, SAFA and PSL referee Akhona Makalima recently hosted a two-day Referee Mentorship programme in Johannesburg for young women match officials who are still active in the game in the Hollywoodbets Super League and the Sasol League.
Held under the banner of her organisation, the Akhona Makalima Foundation, the 2025 Inter-Refs Mentorship programme attracted ladies from as far afield as the Eastern Cape where Makalima hails from.
She is currently the only woman match official on the referees’ panel working in the men’s league, the PSL. Makalima has officiated at World Cup level, CAF Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, the CHAN competition, the regional COSAFA Cup matches as well as the domestic Betway Premiership.
Makalima is hopeful this iniative will go a long way in assisting the upcoming women officials.
“I’m here to give motivation to my sisters, I am here to pass the baton to the ladies, and I am here to inspire them, and also to show them the opportunities that come with refereeing. We are here to encourage them to continue using refereeing as a tool to change their lives and of their families. I just want to be a sister and guide them, support them, and maybe answer their questions. I am here to help uplift them because sometimes they do feel like they’re less motivated and maybe to also hold their hand. It might be difficult at times but when you have a sister it does look easy or maybe the weight is not too heavy,” said a beaming Makalima.
With many topics to deal with, the 37-year-old only picked a select few to tackle – among others, to uphold the image of refereeing, preparing for the game, and maintaining integrity.
“This idea started back in 2016 in East London under the She-Ref Foundation. When I started as a referee, I thought I was alone with just the guys, but I knew I was blessed to have supportive match officials around Buffalo City. However, I needed a sister, sometimes I wanted to share things with someone who understands, I wanted to ask questions to someone who would have a female perspective and I didn’t have that. It was then that I decided to come up with an initiative that the next girl that wants to take up the whistle or the flag, must not feel what I am feeling, when they need some assistance I must be there, when they want some things answered I must be there, when they need someone to comfort them I must be there, when they are down and need someone to lift them up I must be there,” added Makalima.
“That’s how we came to Inter-refs. And the explanation is simple: anyone who wants to be a match official wants to go international, and this led to the Inter-Refs Summit before we found ourselves on Inter-Refs Mentorship programme. I believe that in South Africa we have a fresh crop of match officials and if we can sharpen them now, we can have competitive match officials that will not only go to the World Cup, CAF games, COSAFA matches or the PSL to add numbers but to compete. This initiative is important because the world is changing, refereeing is changing and improving and so is football but then the match officials also need to follow suit.”
Also invited to the two-day even were former top South African officials, Baitsi Manca and Victor Hlungwani, as well as Thando Ndzanzeka who is still active on the national panel of refereeing.
“I think the most important thing about this gathering was having a senior referees or former referees supporting the young girls. Baitsi was here every step of the way for the two days, I really value her presence. Not forgetting Victor and Thando, them being here really means a lot, I appreciate them taking their time to come and talk to the girls and give feedback which is valuable,” said Makalima.
Here is what the attendees had to say:
Palesa Motaung:
(Hollywoodbets Super League referee – Johannesburg)
Being here means a lot. I feel honoured to be one of the girls to be mentored by Akhona because we look up to her. She is encouraging us that there is a chance for us to grow, and that there are opportunities out there. She also wants us to know what wherever she is, we can get there too. So, I am very happy that she is doing this for us more so because during her starting days as a match official she had never has such an opportunity to be mentored like she is doing for us.
Yanelisa Phakathi
(Hollywoodbets Super League referee – Eastern Cape)
It is wonderful being here because I learnt a lot over the two days – what comes to mind mostly is when we met Akhona’s manager, who educated us about the dos and don’ts of social media. What Akhona is doing for us is so important because some of us we were just into refereeing, but she has shown us a whole other side of what we can become beyond the game. This gathering has also given us the motivation to keep going because sometimes it is very difficult and also easy to say I am giving up, but she has helped and showed us the way. This is so crucial because when I started officiating, I had no mentor and I didn’t know how to do some of the things, she taught us on the field stuff and off the field things, this mentorship programme is what every girl needs.
Bomkazi Gqeba
(Hollywoodbets Super League referee – Eastern Cape)
I have achieved a lot by being here over the two days – one being I didn’t know that there are challenges that one can overcome. I learnt how to behave as a match official, I have also learnt that people can look down on you especially since some of us are from the rural areas, but you can still rise and get to travel all over the world the way she does. It is difficult being a referee, but Akhona has shown some of us that someday we can be up where she is and be successful. These mentorship programmes are not common, so they mean a lot coming from people like Akhona, it is an indication that as women we have the necessary support. Refereeing is not easy but with Akhona we are covered, she is my role model, and I learnt a lot from her. So, she also needs all the support she can get, especially from men, for her to continue doing what is doing in mentoring girls like us.
Thando Ndzanzeka
PSL, SAFA, National Referee
I must say she started a very good initiative to organize such a program like this especially for young ladies, these sessions are hard to find so this will definitely help. But it is up to the girls to have the seriousness too, I know it is not an easy road from a local level, but the advantage is that there are very few women officials in the game. What I can advise them to do is to work very hard, stay focused, and have goals to achieve at the end of the day and everything is possible.
Makalima will be taking the initiative to the Eastern Cape to give more ladies a chance to learn from the best, but for now, she is elated with what transpired over the two days.
“It’s very important to say this was a very beautiful event and my heart is dancing; my heart is full of joy and gratitude. The ladies showed up, you could see that they were hungry for this kind of gathering and I could see the manner that they really engaged they were serious. They showed that they appreciate being assisted, they appreciate being given an opportunity like this. Mine was just to give them a bit of a guideline to say define yourself, come up with principles that define you as a referee and that will define you as a referee and come up with your own values. Identify yourself as a referee, what do you want to be known for. But before we can give you an identity in refereeing, you need values – if ever you don’t have your own values, your own principles, and also you do not have your own identity it’s easy to lose yourself as a human being and a referee in football. Refereeing has changed my entire life, the opportunities that have been given have changed my family life, they have changed me as a person, and they have opened doors that I have never imagined. All I was saying to them is that there is an opportunity that they can use and also while they are still refereeing there’s always life football.”
By Matlhomola Morake
