In a significant intervention in South Africa's fractured water polo administration, World Aquatics has appointed a stabilisation committee to oversee the selection and registration of South Africa's men's and women's national teams for the 2027 Water Polo World Cup Division 2. This move comes after South Africa faced the possibility of having no representation at the international competition, which will determine the first qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The stabilisation committee was appointed under Article 8.9 of World Aquatics' constitution, which allows for the appointment of a committee in exceptional circumstances where a member federation fails to adhere to good governance, transparency, financial accountability, and stability. This follows the suspension of Swimming South Africa's (SSA) Chief Executive Shaun Adriaanse and President Alan Fritz by the Aquatics Integrity Unit on 24 August over alleged violations of the World Aquatics Integrity Code.
The stabilisation committee comprises Felipe Perrone, who will chair it, Donné Commins, and Peter Blaauw, with Commins and Blaauw affiliated with the South African Water Polo (SAWP). Their role is to assist in the appointment of coaches for the national side and support the coaches and teams in their preparation for the World Cup Division 2. A fourth member was also appointed to the committee but subsequently withdrew due to a conflict of interest.
According to SAWP, the athletes and coaches already identified and prepared through its Nations Cup programme are positioned to represent South Africa at World Cup level. SAWP's Chief Executive Robbie Taylor stated that the decision to intervene reflected World Aquatics' acknowledgement that South Africa's fragmented water polo structure required independent oversight. Taylor also mentioned that SAWP would support the team financially, regardless of the players' membership status with the organisation.
The appointment of the stabilisation committee does not mean that governance and control of water polo in South Africa have been transferred to SAWP. However, it gives SAWP a direct operational role, which the body sees as an important breakthrough in its ongoing administrative tug of war with SSA. SAWP grew out of a movement that began in late 2024 and was registered in February 2025 as a water polo-specific alternative to SSA.
The question of eligibility for team selection is particularly pertinent given the strained relationship between SSA and SAWP. SSA's constitution provides that athletes who are not in good standing with the federation may be excluded from competition selection. However, on 3 November, SAWP announced that it would lift all existing sanctions that restricted athlete participation based on involvement in past SSA-led competitions.
World Aquatics and SSA did not respond to questions by the time of publication. The stabilisation committee had to confirm South Africa's participation and submit required team rosters and officials by 29 October. The committee will decide on the eligibility criteria for team selection, and SAWP expects these criteria to be inclusive.
Key points
- World Aquatics has appointed a stabilisation committee to oversee South Africa's participation in the 2027 Water Polo World Cup Division 2.
- The stabilisation committee was appointed due to exceptional circumstances, including the suspension of SSA's Chief Executive and President.
- SAWP will support the national team financially, regardless of the players' membership status with the organisation.
