FFSA — Fencing Federation of South Africa

What is the FFSA?

The Fencing Federation of South Africa (FFSA) is the national fencing federation of South Africa. It describes itself in these words: “The Fencing Federation of South Africa (FFSA) is the governing body of the sport of fencing in South Africa.”^[4] It states that it “successfully obtained NPO registration status on 15 February 2023”, with registration number 286-930 NPO.^[4] The FIE lists it as “FENCING FEDERATION OF SOUTH AFRICA”.^[1]

What does the FFSA govern or do?

The federation states its aim as “We strive to improve the sport of fencing in South Africa.”^[4] It ranks its fencers through national competitions in three age groups, cadets (U17), juniors (U20) and seniors, and links its rankings through the Ophardt system.^[4][3]

Its site carries an executive committee page (Exco), a documentation section and a page for each province.^[3] The FIE lists Greta Ingram as its secretary general, and the federation’s home page gives her as its contact in that role.^[1][3]

When was the FFSA founded and where is it based?

The federation’s history page traces national bodies for the sport back to 1907: “In 1907 the South African Fencing Association was formed”.^[5] It records that in 1949 “The South African Amateur Fencing Association (SAAFA) was also constituted in that year”, and that SAAFA “was in 1950 elected as a member of the South African Olympic Games Association and the international controlling body – the Fédération Internationale d’Escrime (FIE).”^[5] The page also states that South African “fencers were barred from competing in World Senior and Junior Fencing Championships from 1966 to 1992.”^[5]

The FIE’s directory gives the federation’s address as “3630, Box 635, Westville, South Africa”.^[1]

How is the FFSA recognised?

International federation. The Fédération Internationale d’Escrime lists the Fencing Federation of South Africa in its directory, with Louise Lombard as president.^[1] The FIE states that it has “156 affiliated Member Federations”, and lists five continental confederations that it recognises.^[2]

Continental body. The FIE’s directory places the federation under the African Fencing Confederation, for which it gives 34 members.^[1]

Olympic committee. The federation states that it is “affiliated to the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASOC)”, as its page spells the abbreviation.^[4] Its history page dates South Africa’s re-acceptance into the Olympic Movement to 1992.^[5]

What does the FFSA organise?

National competitions. The federation states that its national competitions, from which its rankings are drawn, cover three age groups: cadets (U17), juniors (U20) and seniors.^[4] Its home page links an “FFSA Events Calendar 2026” as a PDF, and its rankings and event entries are handled through the Ophardt online system.^[3]

Olympic Games. Its history page records that, on that re-acceptance in 1992, four fencers represented South Africa at the Barcelona Olympic Games.^[5]

Who are its members?

The federation is organised by province. Its site has pages for the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and Western Cape, which, its home page states, list each province’s clubs with contact details.^[3] It advises newcomers: “To get started in fencing, go to your Province’s page and find a club near you.”^[4] Its history page places the Cape and Transvaal associations in 1949 and states that “The Natal and Orange Free State Fencing Associations were later founded and affiliated to SAAFA.”^[5]