PRESIDENT – SA SPORTS LAW ASSOCIATION

Wafeekah Begg-Jassiem is the Legal Manager at the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) and President of the South African Sports Law Association. She is based in Cape Town and is considered one of the leading female sports lawyers in South Africa. She obtained her Law Degree at the University of Pretoria with admittance as an attorney since 2009. Wafeekah holds a cum laude certificate with FIFA/CIES Sports Management obtained from the Nelson Mandela University (2010) and a Master’s Degree in International Sports law obtained from Instituto Superior en Derecho y Economia (ISDE, Madrid 2013). Her passions lie in the combination of sports and law which began from a young age as a former provincial hockey and cricket player for North Gauteng. Her involvement in sport extended to managing junior provincial hockey teams and community based football at Clyde Pinelands FC.

Anti-Doping in Sport and Results Management of tribunal systems and dispute resolutions for nearly nine years are not her only expertise. She has worked at the South African Football Association as a Project Manager for Legal and Compliance, been involved with safeguarding in sport projects and was involved in the drafting of sporting legislation with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. Being selected as a cohort to the Supersport Industry Leaders Program with Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), one can without a doubt agree that she holds a respected position within the sporting industry.

She has proven to lead within the field of sports law with honesty and integrity and has always opened her door to mentoring others. Since 2024 she has been appointed as member to the Inquiry Panel for the National Horseracing Authority and Anti-Doping Panel member on the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). She was recently appointed to serve as Chairperson to the Cycling South Africa Disciplinary Committee. She is also a lecturer for ISDE Barcelona – Masters in Sports Management and Legal Skills Program since 2022. Wafeekah has developed a strong understanding of the legal and ethical considerations that are crucial to maintaining a fair, safe and clean sport environment. Her motto is “in matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock” by Thomas Jefferson.