Exploring the Thriving South African Esports Scene

The South African esports scene isn’t just growing, it’s thriving. You wouldn’t be at fault for wanting to join an esports league. With local tournaments, leagues, and even varsity recognition, it’s clear: if you’ve got a controller (or mouse and keyboard) in hand and a competitive spark, you’ve got a place here.

Grinding ranked matches at home, coordinating starts with your crew, or catching streams between classes? Here’s everything you need to know to get into the esports scene across Mzansi, from school and university leagues to national tournaments and community platforms.

Varsity Esports

Let’s start with the student squads. In 2025, esports is being recognised as an official university sport under University Sport South Africa USSA. This means that Varsity Esports is South Africa’s Premier University Esports league, and you can now represent your campus in competitive play, just like rugby, netball, football, and athletics!

Top Universities with Esports Clubs:

• University of Pretoria (UP)
•  TuksEsports offers tournaments, team try outs, and access to international pathways. Players can compete locally and even qualify for world championships.
• University of Cape Town (UCT) Esports Club 
• With top-tier gear (PS5s, gaming PCs, and a full esports arena), UCT’s club is known for hosting and attending national competitions. More info here.
• Stellenbosch, Wits, University of Johannesburg (UJ), and NWU also have fast-growing programs, with Stellenbosch leading the pack and topping the leaderboard for Varsity Esports 2025 Split 1. Each university's sports department or student hub usually lists registration info online.

More about Varsity Esports 

Created by Mettlestate and ASEM, this inter-university esports league features students competing for their universities in titles like Valorant, EA FC, and Rocket League with a R90 000 prize pool and national coverage. Registration is free and opens on the 11th of August 2025 for the second split to all university students. Check it out here.

High School Esports and Getting An Early Start

You don’t have to wait for university to start competing. South Africa’s school-level esports league scene is on the rise too, with structured competitions designed for students.

Open Leagues & Community Tournaments

Not part of a school or university team? No worries. South Africa’s open tournaments welcome solo players, community teams, and amateur clans. All skill levels are welcome.

Mettlestate – Casual Cups & Battlegrounds

Mettlestate is South Africa’s leading tournament platform. The Mettlestate Casual Cups offer players the chance to jump into daily competitions competing in different titles and participants can win up to R1 000 each day. To get involved, all you need to do is register, play your best game, and claim your prize.

In addition to this Mettlestate also hosts monthly Battleground leagues competitions. For those looking for a longer-term challenge, Mettlestate’s Battlegrounds offer the perfect arena. New game titles are announced every month, giving players fresh opportunities to compete, improve, and rise through the ranks. Battlegrounds run throughout the month, allowing gamers to consistently challenge each other and fight for the top position by month-end.  

Titles include:

• FC Mobile
• Call of Duty Mobile
• Free Fire
• Chess
• Clash Royale

Players can compete for daily R1 000 cashin our Casual Cups and for Mettallions, leaderboard points, and more in Battlegrounds.

Pro tip: Register a Mettlestate account and set up a profile to start climbing the rankings.

Mettlestate provides the platform to showcase your skills and compete with the best.

Kasi Flare

Brought to life by a vision to merge township pride with digital talent, Kasi Flare is a tournament platform and community movement aimed at uplifting local gamers across Mzansi. Kasi Flare creates real opportunities for gamers to shine, whether you’re from Soweto, Khayelitsha, or Umlazi. Keep an eye on their socials for tournament drops and pop-ups at a hub near you.

Kasi Flare is more than just an EA FC tournament, it’s a movement. Designed to boost esports in South Africa’s townships, this competition provides local gamers with a structured platform to showcase their talent. For many players, gaming is more than a pastime; it’s a passion and a potential career path. However, access to competitive and professional opportunities has been limited in township communities.  

Special Esports Tournaments Hosted By Mettlestate  and What you can look forward to:

Over the years, Mettlestate has built a reputation for hosting premier esports league events that spotlight South Africa’s top gaming talent. From high-stakes national championships to brand-powered showdowns, these tournaments have created unforgettable moments for players and fans alike. Here’s a look at two standout events from 2024 and just a taste of what’s still to come.

Mamelodi Sundowns Esports Championship

The Mamelodi Sundowns Esports Championship is another tournament where EA FC players can flex their skills and step up on the national stage. Powered by Mamelodi Sundowns FC and hosted by Mettlestate, the 2024 edition features a massive R200 000 prize pool and a shot at glory in EA FC. Mettlestate hosted both online and offline qualifiers, leading up to the Grand Final at rAge Expo at the Johannesburg Expo Centre.

As the biggest EA FC tournament in South Africa, this event gave players from across the country the chance to showcase their skills on a national stage and compete to become the top EA FC player in the nation. The Sundowns Esports Championship allowed for a wild card entry, through which we introduced Kasi Flare players as wild card contenders and shared this opportunity for them to join the action. Kaylan Moodley, the two-time champion, who proved that rising talent could shine when given the platform.

Monster COD Tournament 

In celebration of Monster’s ongoing partnership with Call of Duty, Mettlestate and Monster joined forces to deliver an action-packed tournament for Black Ops 6 and it did not disappoint. Teams went head-to-head in an intense one-day qualifier, with the top 4 squads advancing to the Grand Final held live at rAge Expo.

With R10 000 up for grabs, the stakes were high and the gameplay electric. The top teams battled it out with precision, strategy, and pure adrenaline, delivering a thrilling spectacle for fans and players alike. Last year, Highball walked away with the crown, cementing their place as one of the top teams in the local scene. The Monster COD tournament was a standout moment for the SA COD scene, proving once again that the local community is more than ready for high-level competition and bigger stages. 

Where To Watch Esports Leagues, Learn, And Stay Plugged In

Stay sharp, and stay in the loop. Here’s where the SA esports community hangs out:

NAG – Local gaming media sites that cover events, gear drops, and player interviews.

Twitch & YouTube – Follow some of South Africa’s top streamers, and tournament channels. (Start with Mettlestate!)

As proud supporters of Local is Lekker, here are some South African streamers on our watch list:

• Paranoid Pixi3 ZA
• Robohobo
• Cashmere Tart
• Snare

Final Tips: Getting Started

Pick your game (or games) and focus on mastering one or two titles.

• Join a platform and register: Mettlestate is South Africa’s leading esports hub, offering everything from casual cups to competitive battleground leagues.
• Compete often! Tournaments on Mettlestate are perfect for gaining experience and exposure to the local esports scene.
• Connect with the community through our Discord server, Reddit threads, or WhatsApp groups where South African gamers hang out and support each other.
• Be consistent. Esports is like any other sport, practice regularly, show up ready, improve your skills, and keep pushing forward.

Stay connected, stay curious, and game on with Mettlestate as your go-to platform for growth, competition, and community.