For over four decades, eta College Cape Town has stood at the forefront of sports education in South Africa, producing a legacy of high-achieving athletes, coaches, sports managers, sports business entrepreneurs, and wellness professionals.

As the college marks its 42nd anniversary, it does so with renewed energy and a highly-skilled staff of sport business and exercise subject matter experts.

“eta College Cape Town campus, led by Campus Manager Janice Meyer, has consistently proven to be one of the top eta College campuses in South Africa. This is testament to the quality of its academic and operational staff,” says Regional Head of Sport Riyaad Peters.

“eta College Cape Town is more than just an academic institution,” says Meyer. “It’s a space where students discover their purpose, push their limits, and become leaders in the sport, recreation and fitness industry.”

With a deep commitment to student-centricity and student-satisfaction, Peters has witnessed the transformation of the College’s offerings and programmes.

“Our current Academic Manager, Grant Goldschmidt and I both have over a decade of experience at eta Cape Town and had first-hand experience of how the qualifications have evolved from only rolling out foundational certifications at NQF Level 5-6, to now offering NQF Level 7, Council of Higher Education accredited, internationally recognised diplomas and bachelor’s degree programmes in Sport Management and Exercise Science.

“We listen to the industry. We evolve. We grow. We adapt,” Meyer explains. “Entrepreneurship is embedded into our programs from day one, and every graduate leaves with both a qualification and a vision for their future.”

The Cape Town campus prides itself on bridging academic excellence with real-world experience through an innovative strategy called the Work-Integrated Learning pathway and their unique Total Immersion program. Student athletes equally require both academic development and sport-specific stimulation/training. The Cape Town campus does not only provide students with theoretical knowledge, they also have access to high-performance sports participation in the University Sports South Africa (USSA) championships. This is a national programme that is built on developing an unshakable culture of high-performance sport, academic mentorship and elite sport science support for student athletes who represent the eta College brand nationally.

One shining example of eta College’s impact is Herbert Mukunga, a first-year student, recently selected to represent eta College at a national level as part of eta College Track & Field team that will compete at the USSA 2025 Track & Field Championships in Pretoria in May 2025.

“When I decided to further my education in sport, I visited several institutions,” says Mukunga. “I ultimately chose eta College because of its comprehensive approach to all sports and its emphasis on practical, hands-on learning — exactly what I was looking for in a program.”

Mukunga, a Zimbabwean national, who will be competing in the Men’s 400m event, sees his enrolment at the Cape Town campus as a launchpad for his career:

“My biggest realisation as a student is that running isn’t just about physical ability — there are mental and technical elements that elevate performance, which I am learning about in class and trying to implement in the way I train and prepare. Now, I don’t just run — I run with purpose and understanding.”

For Mukunga, the most valuable lessons he’s taken from being an eta College student so far are discipline and respect:

“These qualities are essential in sport, and I believe every great athlete carries them — they’re what take you far in both sport and life.”

Looking ahead, Mukunga dreams big:

“My goal is to do well at the USSA 2025 Championships, qualify for international competitions and eventually become one of the fastest men in the world. I’m even aiming to break a few world records along the way.”

“We’re focused not just on academics and sporting ability, but on holistically developing young sports professionals into individuals who are resilient, community-minded, and ready to lead,” says Peters.

At the heart of eta College’s success is a strong culture defined by family, inspiration, and perseverance.

As Meyer puts it:

“We’ve coined the phrase ‘No Student Left Behind,’ and we live by that every day. Our students inspire us just as much as we aim to inspire them.”

Looking to the future, eta College Cape Town is focused on growing its academic offerings, expanding sport performance initiatives, and opening more doors for student-athletes to thrive on and off the field.

“We’re just getting started,” says Meyer. “With each new year, we aim to shape more lives, more leaders, and more legacies in South African sport.”