Nelson Mandela University scholar elected as Vice-President of the African Surfing Confederation

Former Surfing South Africa President and Mandela University Labour Law doctoral student and attorney Johnny Bakker from Gqeberha, has recently been elected as Vice-President of the African Surfing Confederation at the AGM, which was held in Dakar, Senegal. His term runs until 2027.

Backed by the surfing federations of Senegal, Nigeria and Morocco, Johnny hopes to grow the membership to about 30 African countries, as this is his main goal.

In addition, he will assist with legal expertise and multilateral relations between the African surfing nations.

Senegal, one of the current 25 African surfing organisations, is preparing to host the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics.

The Games will be the first International Olympic Committee Event on the continent and also the first time that surfing will join the 28 core disciplines.

“I am humbled to be elected to the position, The objective is for Africa to speak with one voice in the international surfing world,” he says.

For his doctoral thesis Johnny is researching the sponsorship agreement between a sponsor and an athlete / surfer as an employment contract and his supervisor and co-supervisors are Professors Lynn Biggs and Patrick Vrancken.