# South Africa at the 2020 Summer Olympics

South Africa competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the Games were postponed to 23 July to 8 August 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the nation's eighth consecutive appearance at the Games in the post-apartheid era, and twentieth overall in Summer Olympic history.
A week before the Games started, two football players and a video analyst were tested positive for COVID-19 while staying at the Olympic Village.

## Medalists

| Medal | Name | Sport | Event | Date |
| Gold | Tatjana Schoenmaker | Swimming | Women's 200 metre breaststroke | 30 July |
| Silver | Tatjana Schoenmaker | Swimming | Women's 100 metre breaststroke | 27 July |
| Silver | Bianca Buitendag | Surfing | Women's shortboard | 27 July |
Medals by sport :
| Sport | | | | Total |
| Surfing | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Swimming | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |

### Multiple medallists

The following competitors won several medals at the 2020 Olympic Games.
| Name | Medal | Sport | Event |
| Tatjana Schoenmaker | Gold Silver | Swimming | Women's 200 metre breaststroke Women's 100 metre breaststroke |

## Competitors

The following is the list of number of competitors in the Games. Note that reserves in field hockey and football are not counted:
| Sport | Men | Women | Total |
| Artistic swimming | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Athletics | 25 | 5 | 30 |
| Cycling | 7 | 4 | 11 |
| Diving | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Equestrian | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Field hockey | 16 | 16 | 32 |
| Football | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| Golf | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Gymnastics | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Judo | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Rowing | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Rugby sevens | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Sailing | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Skateboarding | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Sport climbing | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Surfing | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Swimming | 8 | 9 | 17 |
| Triathlon | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Water polo | 13 | 13 | 26 |
| Total | 115 | 64 | 179 |

## Artistic swimming

South Africa fielded a squad of two artistic swimmers to compete in the women's duet event, by securing a berth as the highest-ranked pair, not yet qualified, from Africa at the 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, heralding the country's return to the sport for the first time since Barcelona 1992.
| Athlete | Event | Technical routine | Technical routine | Free routine (preliminary) | Free routine (preliminary) | Free routine (preliminary) | Free routine (final) | Free routine (final) | Free routine (final) |
| Athlete | Event | Points | Rank | Points | Total (technical + free) | Rank | Points | Total (technical + free) | Rank |
| Clarissa Johnston Laura Strugnell | Duet | 70.9099 | 21 | 72.1667 | 143.0766 | 21 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Athletics (track and field)

Thirty South African athletes achieved the entry standards, either by qualifying time or by world ranking, in the following track and field events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event):

### Key

* Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
* Q = Qualified for the next round
* q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
* NR = National record
* N/A = Round not applicable for the event
* Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
* NM = No mark
* DNF = Did not finish

### Men

| Athlete | Event | Heat | Heat | Quarterfinal | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank |
| Gift Leotlela | 100 m | Bye | Bye | 10.04 | 1 Q | 10.03 | 4 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Shaun Maswanganyi | 100 m | Bye | Bye | 10.12 | 3 Q | 10.10 | 6 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Akani Simbine | 100 m | Bye | Bye | 10.08 | 1 Q | 9.90 | 4 q | 9.93 | 4 |
| Anaso Jobodwana | 200 m | 20.78 | 3 Q | — | — | 20.88 | 8 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Shaun Maswanganyi | 200 m | 20.58 | 2 Q | — | — | 20.18 | 4 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Clarence Munyai | 200 m | 20.49 | 4 q | — | — | 20.49 | 6 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Zakithi Nene | 400 m | 45.74 | 5 | — | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Wayde van Niekerk | 400 m | 45.25 | 3 Q | — | 45.14 | 5 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Thapelo Phora | 400 m | 45.83 | 5 | — | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Lesiba Mashele | 5000 m | 13:48.25 | 15 | — | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Antonio Alkana | 110 m hurdles | 13.55 | 6 | — | — | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Sokwakhana Zazini | 400 m hurdles | 49.51 | 3 Q | — | — | 48.99 | 6 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Gift Leotlela Shaun Maswanganyi Clarence Munyai Galaletsang Ramorwa Akani Simbine | 4 × 100 m relay | DNF | DNF | — | — | — | — | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Ranti Dikgale Zakithi Nene Thapelo Phora Lythe Pillay Wayde van Niekerk | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:01.18 | 7 | — | — | — | — | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Elroy Gelant | Marathon | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2:16:43 | 34 |
| Desmond Mokgobu | Marathon | — | — | — | — | — | — | DNF | DNF |
| Stephen Mokoka | Marathon | — | — | — | — | — | — | DNF | DNF |
| Wayne Snyman | 20 km walk | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1:24.33 | 20 |
| Marc Mundell | 50 km walk | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4:14:37 | 40 |

### Women

| Athlete | Event | Heat | Heat | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank |
| Dominique Scott | 5000 m | 15:13.94 | 13 | — | — | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Dominique Scott | 10000 m | — | — | — | — | 32:14.05 | 20 |
| Wenda Nel | 400 m hurdles | 56.06 | 3 Q | 56.35 | 7 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Gerda Steyn | Marathon | — | — | — | — | 2:32.10 | 15 |
| Irvette van Zyl | Marathon | — | — | — | — | DNF | DNF |

### Field events

| Athlete | Event | Qualification | Qualification | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Distance | Position | Distance | Position |
| Cheswill Johnson | Men's long jump | NM | — | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Ruswahl Samaai | Men's long jump | 7.74 | 22 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Kyle Blignaut | Men's shot put | 20.97 | 8 q | 21.00 | 6 |
| Jason van Rooyen | Men's shot put | 20.29 | 19 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Rocco van Rooyen | Men's javelin throw | 77.41 | 23 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Jo Ane van Dyk | Women's javelin throw | 57.69 | 24 | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Cycling
### Road

South Africa entered a squad of five riders (three men and two women) to compete in their respective Olympic road races, by virtue of their top 50 national finish (for men) and top 22 (for women) in the UCI World Ranking.
| Athlete | Event | Time | Rank |
| Stefan de Bod | Men's road race | 6:16:53 | 52 |
| Stefan de Bod | Men's time trial | 57:57.10 | 14 |
| Nicholas Dlamini | Men's road race | Did not finish | Did not finish |
| Ryan Gibbons | Men's road race | Did not finish | Did not finish |
| Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio | Women's road race | 3:54:31 | 13 |
| Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio | Women's time trial | 32:37.60 | 8 |
| Carla Oberholzer | Women's road race | Did not finish | Did not finish |

### Track

Following the completion of the 2020 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, South African riders accumulated spots for both men and women in the sprint and keirin, as well as the men's omnium and madison, based on their country's results in the final UCI Olympic rankings.

#### Sprint

| Athlete | Event | Qualification | Qualification | Round 1 | Repechage 1 | Round 2 | Repechage 2 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Time Speed (km/h) | Rank | Opposition Time Speed (km/h) | Opposition Time Speed (km/h) | Opposition Time Speed (km/h) | Opposition Time Speed (km/h) | Opposition Time Speed (km/h) | Opposition Time Speed (km/h) | Opposition Time Speed (km/h) | Rank |
| Jean Spies | Men's sprint | 9.787 73.567 | 27 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Charlene du Preez | Women's sprint | 10.974 65.610 | 22 Q | Hinze (GER) L | McCulloch (AUS) Verdugo (MEX) L | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

#### Keirin

| Athlete | Event | 1st Round | Repechage | 2nd Round | 3rd Round | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Rank | Rank | Rank | Rank | Rank |
| Jean Spies | Men's keirin | 5 R | 5 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Charlene du Preez | Women's keirin | 4 R | 5 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

#### Omnium

| Athlete | Event | Scratch race | Scratch race | Tempo race | Tempo race | Elimination race | Elimination race | Points race | Points race | Total points | Rank |
| Athlete | Event | Rank | Points | Rank | Points | Rank | Points | Points | Rank | Total points | Rank |
| David Maree | Men's omnium | 20 | 2 | 18 | 6 | 15 | 12 | −37 | 18 | −17 | 19 |

### Mountain biking

South Africa entered one rider each to compete in both men's and women's cross-country race, respectively, by virtue of their best individual ranking at the 2019 African Championships.
| Athlete | Event | Time | Rank |
| Alan Hatherly | Men's cross-country | 1:26:33 | 8 |
| Candice Lill | Women's cross-country | 1:26:20 | 24 |

### BMX

South African riders qualified for one men's quota place in BMX at the Olympics, by accepting a continental berth for Africa from the Union Cycliste Internationale based on its rankings of June 1, 2021.
| Athlete | Event | Quarterfinal | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Points | Rank | Points | Rank | Result | Rank |
| Alex Limberg | Men's race | 20 | 6 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Diving

South African divers qualified for two individual spots each in the women's springboard, respectively, at the Games through the 2019 African Qualifying Meet in Durban and the 2021 FINA World Cup series in Tokyo.
| Athlete | Event | Preliminary | Preliminary | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Points | Rank | Points | Rank | Points | Rank |
| Micaela Bouter | Women's 3 m springboard | 216.15 | 26 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Julia Vincent | Women's 3 m springboard | 228.90 | 25 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Equestrian

South Africa entered two riders into the Olympic equestrian competition by the following results: a top two finish each, outside the group selection, of the individual FEI Olympic Rankings for Group F (Africa and Middle East) in both dressage and eventing, respectively.

### Dressage

Rio 2016 pair of Seymour and Ramoneur got nominated to compete on June 18, 2021. The Tokyo Olympics are to be the final career international competition for the Oldenburg stallion. Seymour was forced to withdraw while in Tokyo after Ramoneur suffered laminitis.
| Athlete | Horse | Event | Grand Prix | Grand Prix | Grand Prix Freestyle | Grand Prix Freestyle | Overall | Overall |
| Athlete | Horse | Event | Score | Rank | Technical | Artistic | Score | Rank |
| Tanya Seymour | Ramoneur | Individual | Withdrew due to her horse Ramoneur's laminitis | Withdrew due to her horse Ramoneur's laminitis | Withdrew due to her horse Ramoneur's laminitis | Withdrew due to her horse Ramoneur's laminitis | Withdrew due to her horse Ramoneur's laminitis | Withdrew due to her horse Ramoneur's laminitis |
Qualification Legend: Q = Qualified for the final; q = Qualified for the final as a lucky loser

### Eventing

| Athlete | Horse | Event | Dressage | Dressage | Cross-country | Cross-country | Cross-country | Jumping | Jumping | Jumping | Jumping | Jumping | Jumping | Total | Total |
| Athlete | Horse | Event | Dressage | Dressage | Cross-country | Cross-country | Cross-country | Qualifier | Qualifier | Qualifier | Final | Final | Final | | | Total | Total |
| Athlete | Horse | Event | Penalties | Rank | Penalties | Total | Rank | Penalties | Total | Rank | Penalties | Total | Rank | Penalties | Rank |
| Victoria Scott-Legendre | Valtho des Peupliers | Individual | 39.50 | 53 | 19.80 | 59.30 | 34 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |

## Field hockey
### Summary

Key:
* FT – After full time.
* P – Match decided by penalty-shootout.
| Team | Event | Group Stage | Group Stage | Group Stage | Group Stage | Group Stage | Group Stage | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| Team | Event | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Rank | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Rank |
| South Africa men's | Men's tournament | Great Britain L 1–3 | Netherlands L 3–5 | Belgium L 4–9 | Germany W 4–3 | Canada D 4–4 | 5 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| South Africa women's | Women's tournament | Ireland L 0–2 | Great Britain L 1–4 | Netherlands L 0–5 | Germany L 1–4 | India L 3–4 | 6 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

### Men's tournament

South Africa men's field hockey team qualified for the Olympics by winning the 2019 Men's African Olympic Qualifier in Stellenbosch.

#### Team roster

The squad was announced on 27 May 2021.
Head coach: Garreth Ewing
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 2 | FW | Mustaphaa Cassiem | (2002-03-19)19 March 2002 (aged 19) | 8 | 7 | Varsity College |
| 3 | DF | Tyson Dlungwana | (1997-02-18)18 February 1997 (aged 24) | 47 | 0 | Phoenix Hockey Club |
| 5 | DF | Austin Smith | (1985-05-20)20 May 1985 (aged 36) | 178 | 67 | Den Bosch |
| 7 | DF | Timothy Drummond (Captain) | (1988-03-05)5 March 1988 (aged 33) | 145 | 19 | Klein Zwitserland |
| 8 | MF | Nduduza Lembethe | (1996-01-13)13 January 1996 (aged 25) | 33 | | University of Pretoria |
| 10 | FW | Keenan Horne | (1992-06-17)17 June 1992 (aged 29) | 64 | | Central |
| 13 | DF | Matthew Guise-Brown | (1991-09-13)13 September 1991 (aged 29) | 42 | 25 | Hampstead & Westminster |
| 14 | MF | Rusten Abrahams | (1997-12-16)16 December 1997 (aged 23) | 10 | 2 | University of the Witwatersrand |
| 15 | FW | Dayaan Cassiem | (1998-12-01)1 December 1998 (aged 22) | 38 | 15 | Gladbacher HTC |
| 17 | FW | Ryan Julius | (1995-07-19)19 July 1995 (aged 26) | 41 | | Almeerse HC |
| 18 | MF | Taine Paton | (1989-01-04)4 January 1989 (aged 32) | 115 | | Antwerp |
| 20 | FW | Tevin Kok | (1996-10-20)20 October 1996 (aged 24) | 35 | | Kearsney |
| 21 | DF | Jethro Eustice | (1989-11-01)1 November 1989 (aged 31) | 128 | 21 | Kearsney |
| 22 | DF | Daniel Bell | (1994-09-28)28 September 1994 (aged 26) | 58 | 11 | Daring |
| 23 | GK | Rassie Pieterse | (1983-08-20)20 August 1983 (aged 37) | 161 | | Wanderers Hockey Club |
| 24 | MF | Nicholas Spooner | (1991-08-28)28 August 1991 (aged 29) | 26 | | Harvestehuder THC |
| 27 | FW | Nqobile Ntuli | (1996-01-15)15 January 1996 (aged 25) | 58 | 25 | University of Pretoria |
| 29 | MF | Samkelo Mvimbi | (1999-01-23)23 January 1999 (aged 22) | 14 | 1 | University of Pretoria |

#### Group play

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Belgium | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 9 | +17 | 13 | Quarter-finals |
| 2 | Germany | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 10 | +9 | 9 | Quarter-finals |
| 3 | Great Britain | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 8 | Quarter-finals |
| 4 | Netherlands | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 7 | Quarter-finals |
| 5 | South Africa | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 24 | −8 | 4 | |
| 6 | Canada | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 27 | −18 | 1 | |
* 24 July 2021 (2021-07-24) 18:30 v
| Great Britain | 3–1 | South Africa |
| Ward 2' Ansell 32' Waller 56' | Report | Guise-Brown 4' |
* North Pitch Umpires: Germán Montes de Oca (ARG) Ben Goentgen (GER)
* 25 July 2021 (2021-07-25) 21:15 v
| South Africa | 3–5 | Netherlands |
| M. Cassiem 2' D. Cassiem 10' Kok 18' | Report | Pruyser 24', 54' Van Dam 29' Brinkman 36' Van der Weerden 48' |
* South Pitch Umpires: Jakub Mejzlík (CZE) Javed Shaikh (IND)
* 27 July 2021 (2021-07-27) 18:30 v
| Belgium | 9–4 | South Africa |
| Dohmen 4', 15' Hendrickx 9', 18', 40' Briels 12' Van Doren 15' Gougnard 25' Charlier 41' | Report | D. Cassiem 5', 31' M. Cassiem 23' Ntuli 29' |
* North Pitch Umpires: Raghu Prasad (IND) Francisco Vázquez (ESP)
* 29 July 2021 (2021-07-29) 11:45 v
| South Africa | 4–3 | Germany |
| Guise-Brown 9' Horne 13' Spooner 45' M. Cassiem 48' | Report | Herzbruch 8' Windfeder 22' Staib 24' |
* North Pitch Umpires: David Tomlinson (NZL) Javed Shaikh (IND)
* 30 July 2021 (2021-07-30) 12:15 v
| Canada | 4–4 | South Africa |
| Pearson 11' K. Pereira 17' Boothroyd 42' Ho-Garcia 59' | Report | Ntuli 2' Spooner 9' Guise-Brown 34' Mvimbi 58' |
* South Pitch Umpires: Germán Montes de Oca (ARG) Raghu Prasad (IND)

### Women's tournament

South Africa women's field hockey team qualified for the Olympics by winning the 2019 Women's African Olympic Qualifier in Stellenbosch.

#### Team roster

The squad was announced on 27 May 2021.
Head coach: Robin Van Ginkel
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1 | GK | Phumelela Mbande | (1993-03-08)8 March 1993 (aged 28) | 47 | {{{goals}}} | Northern Blues |
| 3 | FW | Celia Seerane | (1990-06-18)18 June 1990 (aged 31) | 163 | {{{goals}}} | Northern Blues |
| 4 | DF | Nicole Walraven | (1994-12-12)12 December 1994 (aged 26) | 48 | {{{goals}}} | Northern Blues |
| 5 | FW | Edith Molikoe | (2000-05-23)23 May 2000 (aged 21) | 0 | {{{goals}}} | Northern Blues |
| 6 | DF | Taryn Potts | (1992-04-19)19 April 1992 (aged 29) | 5 | {{{goals}}} | Southern Gauteng |
| 7 | MF | Marizen Marais | (1996-05-17)17 May 1996 (aged 25) | 27 | {{{goals}}} | Blyde River Bunters |
| 8 | MF | Kristen Paton | (1996-12-21)21 December 1996 (aged 24) | 33 | {{{goals}}} | Southern Gauteng |
| 9 | MF | Robyn Johnson | (1990-12-07)7 December 1990 (aged 30) | 18 | {{{goals}}} | Southern Gauteng |
| 10 | MF | Onthatile Zulu | (2000-03-14)14 March 2000 (aged 21) | 10 | {{{goals}}} | Northern Blues |
| 13 | DF | Lisa-Marié Deetlefs | (1987-09-08)8 September 1987 (aged 33) | 267 | {{{goals}}} | Southern Gauteng |
| 14 | FW | Nomnikelo Veto | (1997-01-03)3 January 1997 (aged 24) | 18 | {{{goals}}} | Southern Gauteng |
| 16 | MF | Erin Hunter (Captain) | (1992-03-20)20 March 1992 (aged 29) | 59 | {{{goals}}} | Southern Gauteng |
| 17 | FW | Charné Maddocks | (1998-06-10)10 June 1998 (aged 23) | 0 | {{{goals}}} | North-West University |
| 19 | MF | Lilian du Plessis | (1992-12-17)17 December 1992 (aged 28) | 135 | {{{goals}}} | Southern Gauteng |
| 22 | DF | Lerato Mahole | (1999-12-29)29 December 1999 (aged 21) | 0 | {{{goals}}} | Namaqualand Daisies |
| 28 | FW | Quanita Bobbs | (1993-09-03)3 September 1993 (aged 27) | 132 | {{{goals}}} | Western Province |
| 29 | DF | Tarryn Glasby | (1995-01-23)23 January 1995 (aged 26) | 42 | {{{goals}}} | Western Province |
| 30 | FW | Toni Marks | (1994-07-19)19 July 1994 (aged 27) | 16 | {{{goals}}} | Madikwe Rangers |

#### Group play

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Netherlands | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 | +16 | 15 | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Germany | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 7 | +6 | 12 | Quarterfinals |
| 3 | Great Britain | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 9 | Quarterfinals |
| 4 | India | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 14 | −7 | 6 | Quarterfinals |
| 5 | Ireland | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 11 | −7 | 3 | |
| 6 | South Africa | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 19 | −14 | 0 | |
* 24 July 2021 (2021-07-24) 21:15 v
| Ireland | 2–0 | South Africa |
| Upton 9' Torrans 45' | Report | |
* South Pitch Umpires: Kelly Hudson (NZL) Emi Yamada (JPN)
* 26 July 2021 (2021-07-26) 18:30 v
| South Africa | 1–4 | Great Britain |
| Walraven 6' | Report | Rayer 29', 50' Toman 39' Unsworth 40' |
* North Pitch Umpires: Carolina de la Fuente (ARG) Maggie Giddens (USA)
* 28 July 2021 (2021-07-28) 09:30 v
| Netherlands | 5–0 | South Africa |
| Matla 16', 35' Keetels 42' Albers 52' Verschoor 55' | Report | |
* North Pitch Umpires: Amber Church (NZL) Ayanna McClean (TTO)
* 30 July 2021 (2021-07-30) 09:30 v
| South Africa | 1–4 | Germany |
| Marks 53' | Report | Altenburg 2', 24' Zimmermann 10' Schröder 49' |
* North Pitch Umpires: Emi Yamada (JPN) Maggie Giddens (USA)
* 31 July 2021 (2021-07-31) 12:15 v
| India | 4–3 | South Africa |
| Vandana 4', 17', 49' Neha 32' | Report | Glasby 15' Hunter 30' Marais 39' |
* South Pitch Umpires: Amber Church (NZL) Liu Xiaoying (CHN)

## Football (soccer)
### Summary

Key:
* A.E.T – After extra time.
* P – Match decided by penalty-shootout.
| Team | Event | Group Stage | Group Stage | Group Stage | Group Stage | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| Team | Event | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Rank | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Rank |
| South Africa men's | Men's tournament | Japan L 0–1 | France L 3–4 | Mexico L 0–3 | 4 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

### Men's tournament

South Africa men's football team qualified for the Games by winning the bronze medal and securing the last of three available berths of the 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.

#### Team roster

South Africa's final squad was announced on 3 July 2021.
Head coach: David Notoane
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Club |
| 1 | 1GK | Ronwen Williams* | (1992-01-21)21 January 1992 (aged 29) | SuperSport United |
| 2 | 2DF | James Monyane | (2000-04-30)30 April 2000 (aged 21) | Orlando Pirates |
| 3 | 2DF | Katlego Mohamme | (1998-03-10)10 March 1998 (aged 23) | University of Pretoria |
| 4 | 3MF | Teboho Mokoena | (1997-01-24)24 January 1997 (aged 24) | SuperSport United |
| 5 | 2DF | Luke Fleurs | (2000-03-03)3 March 2000 (aged 21) | SuperSport United |
| 6 | 3MF | Kamohelo Mahlatsi | (1998-08-23)23 August 1998 (aged 22) | Moroka Swallows |
| 7 | 3MF | Nkosingiphile Ngcobo | (1999-11-16)16 November 1999 (aged 21) | Kaizer Chiefs |
| 8 | 3MF | Thabo Cele | (1997-01-15)15 January 1997 (aged 24) | Cova Piedade |
| 9 | 4FW | Evidence Makgopa | (2000-06-05)5 June 2000 (aged 21) | Baroka |
| 10 | 4FW | Luther Singh | (1997-08-05)5 August 1997 (aged 23) | Paços de Ferreira |
| 11 | 2DF | MacBeth Mahlangu | (2001-10-11)11 October 2001 (aged 19) | TS Galaxy |
| 12 | 3MF | Goodman Mosele | (1999-11-18)18 November 1999 (aged 21) | Baroka |
| 13 | 2DF | Reeve Frosler | (1998-01-11)11 January 1998 (aged 23) | Kaizer Chiefs |
| 14 | 2DF | Sibusiso Mabiliso | (1999-04-14)14 April 1999 (aged 22) | AmaZulu |
| 15 | 2DF | Tercious Malepe (captain) | (1997-02-18)18 February 1997 (aged 24) | Mynai |
| 16 | 1GK | Mondli Mpoto | (1998-07-24)24 July 1998 (aged 22) | Bloemfontein Celtic |
| 17 | 2DF | Thendo Mukumela | (1998-01-30)30 January 1998 (aged 23) | Cape Town Spurs |
| 18 | 4FW | Kobamelo Kodisang | (1999-08-28)28 August 1999 (aged 21) | Braga |
| 22 | 1GK | Sifiso Mlungwana | (1997-04-27)27 April 1997 (aged 24) | Lamontville Golden Arrows |
* Overage player.

#### Group play

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Japan (H) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Mexico | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 6 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | France | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 11 | −6 | 3 | |
| 4 | South Africa | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 0 | |

## Golf

South Africa entered two golfers (both men) into the Olympic tournament. Christiaan Bezuidenhout (world no. 46), Garrick Higgo (world no. 38), and Ashleigh Buhai (world no. 76) qualified directly among the top 60 eligible players for their respective events based on the IGF World Rankings. Louis Oosthuizen and Lee-Anne Pace were initially selected but opted not to play. Ashleigh Buhai later withdrew and was replaced by Paula Reto who also withdrew.
| Athlete | Event | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Total | Total | Total |
| Athlete | Event | Score | Score | Score | Score | Score | Par | Rank |
| Christiaan Bezuidenhout | Men's | 68 | 70 | 68 | 67 | 273 | −7 | =16 |
| Garrick Higgo | Men's | 71 | 71 | 70 | 72 | 284 | E | =53 |

## Gymnastics
### Artistic

South Africa entered two artistic gymnast into the Olympic competition. Caitlin Rooskrantz received a spare berth from the women's apparatus events, as one of the twelve highest-ranked gymnasts, neither part of the team nor qualified directly through the all-around, at the 2019 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. Meanwhile, Naveen Daries claimed an additional place to join Rooskrantz on the South African squad with a bronze-medal finish in the women's individual all-around at the 2021 African Championships in Cairo, Egypt.

#### Women

| Athlete | Event | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Apparatus | Apparatus | Apparatus | Apparatus | Total | Rank | Apparatus | Apparatus | Apparatus | Apparatus | Total | Rank |
| Athlete | Event | V | UB | BB | F | Total | Rank | V | UB | BB | F | Total | Rank |
| Naveen Daries | All-around | 13.300 | 12.366 | 8.933 | 11.766 | 46.365 | 76 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Caitlin Rooskrantz | All-around | 12.800 | 13.300 | 12.200 | 11.633 | 49.933 | 61 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Judo

South Africa qualified one judoka for the women's extra-lightweight category (48 kg) at the Games. Geronay Whitebooi received a continental berth from Africa as the nation's top-ranked judoka outside of direct qualifying position in the IJF World Ranking List of June 28, 2021.
| Athlete | Event | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Repechage | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| Athlete | Event | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Rank |
| Geronay Whitebooi | Women's −48 kg | Pareto (ARG) L 001–100 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Rowing

South Africa qualified one boat in the men's pair by finishing third in the B-final and securing ninth out of eleven berths available at the 2019 FISA World Championships in Ottensheim, Austria. Meanwhile, the men's coxless four rowers were added to the South African roster with their top-two finish at the 2021 FISA Final Qualification Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland.
| Athlete | Event | Heats | Heats | Repechage | Repechage | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank |
| Luc Daffarn Jake Green | Men's pair | 7:04.03 | 5 R | 6:57.01 | 4 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Lawrence Brittain Kyle Schoonbee John Smith Sandro Torrente | Men's four | 6:25.34 | 5 R | 6:30.34 | 6 FB | — | — | 6:09.85 | 10 |
Qualification Legend: FA=Final A (medal); FB=Final B (non-medal); FC=Final C (non-medal); FD=Final D (non-medal); FE=Final E (non-medal); FF=Final F (non-medal); SA/B=Semifinals A/B; SC/D=Semifinals C/D; SE/F=Semifinals E/F; QF=Quarterfinals; R=Repechage

## Rugby sevens
### Summary

| Team | Event | Group stage | Group stage | Group stage | Group stage | Quarterfinal/ Classification | Semifinal/ Classification | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| Team | Event | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Rank | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Rank |
| South Africa men's | Men's tournament | Ireland W 33–14 | Kenya W 14–5 | United States W 17–12 | 1 Q | Argentina L 19–14 | Australia W 22–19 | United States W 28–7 | 5 |

### Men's tournament

The South Africa national rugby sevens team qualified by advancing to the quarterfinals in the 2019 London Sevens, securing a top four spot in the 2018–19 World Rugby Sevens Series.

#### Team roster

South Africa's 12-man squad plus one alternate was named on 6 July 2021.
Head coach: Neil Powell
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Events | Points |
| 1 | FW | Chris Dry | (1988-02-13)13 February 1988 (aged 33) | 74 | 490 |
| 2 | FW | Sako Makata | (1998-09-10)10 September 1998 (aged 22) | 9 | 20 |
| 3 | FW | Impi Visser | (1995-05-30)30 May 1995 (aged 26) | 13 | 65 |
| 4 | FW | Zain Davids | (1997-05-04)4 May 1997 (aged 24) | 22 | 80 |
| 5 | FW | Angelo Davids | (1999-06-01)1 June 1999 (aged 22) | 6 | 90 |
| 6 | FW | JC Pretorius | (1998-01-29)29 January 1998 (aged 23) | 10 | 120 |
| 7 | BK | Branco du Preez | (1990-05-08)8 May 1990 (aged 31) | 75 | 1,355 |
| 8 | BK | Selvyn Davids | (1994-03-26)26 March 1994 (aged 27) | 20 | 409 |
| 9 | BK | Justin Geduld | (1993-10-01)1 October 1993 (aged 27) | 50 | 1,034 |
| 10 | BK | Kurt-Lee Arendse | (1996-06-17)17 June 1996 (aged 25) | 8 | 70 |
| 11 | BK | Siviwe Soyizwapi (c) | (1992-12-07)7 December 1992 (aged 28) | 30 | 465 |
| 12 | BK | Stedman Gans | (1997-03-19)19 March 1997 (aged 24) | 22 | 170 |
| 13 | BK | Ronald Brown | (1995-09-02)2 September 1995 (aged 25) | 0 | 0 |

#### Group play

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | South Africa | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 31 | +33 | 9 | Quarter-finals |
| 2 | United States | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 50 | 48 | +2 | 7 | Quarter-finals |
| 3 | Ireland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 43 | 59 | −16 | 5 | |
| 4 | Kenya | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 45 | −19 | 3 | |
* 26 July 2021 (2021-07-26) 11:00
| South Africa | 33–14 | Ireland |
| Try: Z. Davids 2' c Visser 6' c Geduld 8' c Dry 12' c Gans 13' m Con: S. Davids (4/5) 2', 6', 8', 12' | (Tokyo 2020) | Try: Mullin 7' c Kennedy 10' c Con: Dardis (2/2) 7', 10' |
* Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo Attendance: 0 Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
* 26 July 2021 (2021-07-26) 19:00
| South Africa | 14–5 | Kenya |
| Try: S. Davids 2' c Soyizwapi 3' c Con: du Preez (2/2) 2', 4' | (Tokyo 2020) | Try: Injera 6' m Con: Agero (0/1) |
* Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo Attendance: 0 Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)
* 27 July 2021 (2021-07-27) 11:30
| South Africa | 17–12 | United States |
| Try: S. Davids (2) 6' m, 10' m Gans 8' c Con: S. Davids (1/3) 9' | (Tokyo 2020) | Try: Schroeder 1' m Thompson 12' c Con: Melphy (0/1) Hughes (1/1) 13' |
* Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo Attendance: 0 Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)

#### Quarterfinals

* 27 July 2021 (2021-07-27) 18:30
| South Africa | 14–19 | Argentina |
| Try: S. Davids 1' c Penalty try 13' Con: Geduld (1/1) 1' | (Tokyo 2020) | Try: Moneta (2) 4' c, 7' c Álvarez 12' m Con: Mare (2/2) 5', 7' Bazán (0/1) |
* Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo Attendance: 0 Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)

#### Semifinals

* 28 July 2021 (2021-07-28) 10:30
| South Africa | 22–19 | Australia |
| Try: Soyizwapi 1' m Brown (2) 5' m, 7' c Pretorius 11' m Con: Brown (0/1) Geduld (1/2) 7' du Preez (0/1) | (Tokyo 2020) | Try: Miller 8' c Turner 10' m Longbottom 12' c Con: Miller (1/1) 9' Coward (0/1) Longbottom (1/1) 13' |
* Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo Attendance: 0 Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)

#### Fifth place match

* 28 July 2021 (2021-07-28) 17:00
| United States | 7–28 | South Africa |
| Try: Tomasin 4' c Con: Hughes (1/1) 4' | (Tokyo 2020) | Try: Geduld 2' c Makata 7' c Arendse 12' c Gans 14' c Con: Brown (2/2) 2', 7' du Preez (2/2) 13', 14' |
* Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo Attendance: 0 Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)

## Sailing

South African sailors qualified one boat in each of the following classes through the 2018 Sailing World Championships, the class-associated Worlds, and the continental regattas.
| Athlete | Event | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Race | Net points | Final rank |
| Athlete | Event | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | M* | Net points | Final rank |
| Leo Davis | Men's Finn | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 19 | — | — | EL | 159 | 19 |
| Alex Burger Benjamin Talbot | Men's 49er | 13 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 17 | EL | 163 | 19 |
M = Medal race; EL = Eliminated – did not advance into the medal race

## Skateboarding

South Africa entered four skateboarders (two per gender) to compete across all events at the Games. Dallas Oberholtzer (men's park), Brandon Valjalo (men's street), Melissa Williams (women's park), and Boipelo Awuah (women's street) granted an invitation from the World Skate as the highest-ranked skateboarders from Africa vying for qualification in the street and park events based on their performances in the federation's Olympic Rankings of June 30, 2021.
| Athlete | Event | Qualification | Qualification | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Opposition Result | Rank | Opposition Result | Rank |
| Dallas Oberholtzer | Men's park | 24.08 | 20 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Brandon Valjalo | Men's street | 16.41 | 18 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Melissa Williams | Women's park | 8.30 | 20 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Boipelo Awuah | Women's street | Withdrew due to injury | Withdrew due to injury | Withdrew due to injury | Withdrew due to injury |

## Sport climbing

South Africa entered two sport climbers into the Olympic tournament. Erin Sterkenburg and Christopher Cosser qualified directly for the women's and men's combined events, respectively, by advancing to the final stage and eventually winning the gold medal at the 2020 IFSC African Championships in Cape Town.
| Athlete | Event | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Qualification | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Speed | Speed | Boulder | Boulder | Lead | Lead | Lead | Total | Rank | Speed | Speed | Boulder | Boulder | Lead | Lead | Lead | Total | Rank |
| Athlete | Event | Best | Place | Result | Place | Hold | Time | Place | Total | Rank | Best | Place | Result | Place | Hold | Time | Place | Total | Rank |
| Christopher Cosser | Men's | 6.48 | 9 | 0T2z 0 15 | 16 | 29 | — | 10 | 1440.00 | 16 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Erin Sterkenburg | Women's | 11.10 | 20 | 0T1z 0 1 | 17 | 7+ | — | 20 | 6800.00 | 20 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Surfing

South Africa sent two surfers (one per gender) to compete in their respective shortboard races at the Games. Bianca Buitendag secured a qualification slot for her nation in the women's shortboard as the highest-ranked and last remaining surfer from Africa at the 2019 ISA World Surfing Games in Miyazaki, Japan. On the men's side, Jordy Smith finished within the top ten of those eligible for qualification in the World Surf League rankings to join Buitendag on the South African roster for Tokyo 2020.
| Athlete | Event | Round 1 | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| Athlete | Event | Points | Rank | Points | Rank | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Rank |
| Bianca Buitendag | Women's shortboard | 11.44 | 3 q | 10.40 | 2 Q | Gilmore (AUS) W 13.93–10.00 | Hopkins (POR) W 9.50–5.46 | Marks (USA) W 11.00–3.67 | Moore (USA) L 8.46–14.93 | |

## Swimming

Seventeen South African swimmers achieved qualifying standards in the following events (up to a maximum of two swimmers in each event at the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT), and potentially one at the Olympic Selection Time (OST)): To assure their selection to the Olympic team, swimmers must attain an Olympic qualifying cut in each individual pool event at the 2021 South African National Championships (April 8 to 12) in Johannesburg.
Seventeen swimmers (eight men and nine women) were officially named to the South African roster for the Games on June 24, 2021, including London 2012 gold medalist Chad Le Clos in the men's butterfly double and 2019 world silver medalist and national record holder Tatjana Schoenmaker in the women's breaststroke double.

### Men

| Athlete | Event | Heat | Heat | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank |
| Martin Binedell | 200 m backstroke | 1:58.47 | 21 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Pieter Coetze | 100 m backstroke | 54.05 | 24 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Ethan du Preez | 200 m butterfly | 1:58.50 | 30 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Michael Houlie | 100 m breaststroke | 1:01.22 | 37 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Chad Le Clos | 100 m butterfly | 51.89 | =18 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Chad Le Clos | 200 m butterfly | 1:55.96 | 16 Q | 1:55.06 | 3 Q | 1:54.93 | 5 |
| Michael McGlynn | 10 km open water | — | — | — | — | 1:51:32.7 | 8 |
| Matthew Sates | 100 m butterfly | 52.34 | 32 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Matthew Sates | 200 m individual medley | 1:58.08 | 15 Q | 1:58.75 | 14 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Brad Tandy | 50 m freestyle | 22.22 | =24 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

### Women

| Athlete | Event | Heat | Heat | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank |
| Emma Chelius | 50 m freestyle | 24.65 | =11 Q | 24.64 | 13 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Kaylene Corbett | 200 m breaststroke | 2:22.48 | 4 Q | 2:22.08 | 4 Q | 2:22.06 | 5 |
| Erin Gallagher | 100 m butterfly | 59.69 | 26 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Erin Gallagher | 100 m freestyle | 54.75 | 25 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Rebecca Meder | 200 m individual medley | 2:14.79 | 23 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Tatjana Schoenmaker | 100 m breaststroke | 1:04.82 OR | 1 Q | 1:05.07 | 1 Q | 1:05.22 | |
| Tatjana Schoenmaker | 200 m breaststroke | 2:19.16 OR | 1 Q | 2:19.33 | 1 Q | 2:18.95 WR | |
| Michelle Weber | 10 km open water | — | — | — | — | 2:06:56.5 | 21 |
| Aimee Canny Duné Coetzee Erin Gallagher Rebecca Meder | 4 × 200 m freestyle relay | 8:01.56 | 11 | — | — | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Aimee Canny Erin Gallagher Tatjana Schoenmaker Mariella Venter | 4 × 100 m medley relay | 4:03.02 | 14 | — | — | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Triathlon
### Individual

| Athlete | Event | Time | Time | Time | Time | Time | Time | Rank |
| Athlete | Event | Swim (1.5 km) | Trans 1 | Bike (40 km) | Trans 2 | Run (10 km) | Total | Rank |
| Henri Schoeman | Men's | 17:55 | 0:45 | 56:41 | 0:28 | Did not finish | Did not finish | Did not finish |
| Simone Ackermann | Women's | 19:08 | 0:45 | 1:03:17 | 0:34 | 37:30 | 2:01:14 | 17 |
| Gillian Sanders | Women's | 20:18 | 0:45 | Lapped | Lapped | Lapped | Lapped | Lapped |

## Water polo

South Africa qualified to compete in the men's water polo tournament for the first time since Rome 1960, and in the women's water polo tournament for the first time ever.

### Summary

* FT – After full time.
* P – Match decided by penalty-shootout.
| Team | Event | Group stage | Group stage | Group stage | Group stage | Group stage | Group stage | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| Team | Event | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Rank | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Opposition Score | Rank |
| South Africa men's | Men's tournament | Italy L 2–21 | United States L 3–20 | Hungary L 1–23 | Greece L 5–28 | Japan L 9–24 | 6 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| South Africa women's | Women's tournament | Spain L 4–29 | Canada L 1–21 | Netherlands L 1–31 | Australia L 1–14 | — | 5 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

### Men's tournament
#### Team roster

South Africa's squad was announced on 24 June 2021. Roarke Olver was replaced by Timothy Rezelman.
Head coach: Paul Martin
| No. | Player | Pos. | L/R | Height | Weight | Date of birth (age) | Apps | OG/ Goals | Club |
| 1 | Lwazi Madi (C) | 10GK | 2R | | | (1994-12-12)12 December 1994 (aged 26) | 35 | 0/0 | Stellenbosch University |
| 2 | Devon Card | 40CF | 2R | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | 110 kg (243 lb) | (1991-02-25)25 February 1991 (aged 30) | 60 | 0/0 | SACS Old Boys |
| 3 | Timothy Rezelman | 50D | 2R | | | (1995-01-13)13 January 1995 (aged 26) | 6 | 0/0 | OJ Eagles |
| 4 | Ignardus Badenhorst | 40CF | 2R | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | 112 kg (247 lb) | (1990-08-26)26 August 1990 (aged 30) | 61 | 0/0 | OJ Eagles |
| 5 | Cameron Laurenson | 20CB | 2R | | | (1998-04-28)28 April 1998 (aged 23) | 37 | 0/0 | Maties (Stellenbosch) |
| 6 | Ross Stone | 50D | 2R | | | (2000-05-15)15 May 2000 (aged 21) | 30 | 0/0 | Stellenbosch University |
| 7 | Jason Evezard | 50D | 2R | | | (1997-08-17)17 August 1997 (aged 23) | 14 | 0/0 | Maties (Stellenbosch) |
| 8 | Nicholas Rodda | 50D | 2R | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | (1992-10-11)11 October 1992 (aged 28) | 30 | 0/0 | OJ Eagles |
| 9 | Yaseen Margro | 50D | 2R | | | (2000-02-12)12 February 2000 (aged 21) | 14 | 0/0 | KNZ (Durban) |
| 10 | Farouk Mayman | 20CB | 2R | | | (1999-05-03)3 May 1999 (aged 22) | 7 | 0/0 | RWC (Cape Town) |
| 11 | Liam Neill | 40CF | 2R | | | (1997-10-26)26 October 1997 (aged 23) | 35 | 0/0 | University of Cape Town |
| 12 | Donn Stewart | 20CB | 2R | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | | (1980-08-22)22 August 1980 (aged 40) | 90 | 0/0 | Clifton (Durban) |
| 13 | Gareth May | 10GK | 2R | | | (1996-11-09)9 November 1996 (aged 24) | 14 | 0/0 | Team Walrus |
| Average | Average | Average | Average | | | 26 years, 185 days | 33 | | |
Note: Age as of 23 July 2021 Source: South Africa Men | Tokyo 2020 Olympics Archived 2021-07-22 at the Wayback Machine

#### Group play

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Greece | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 68 | 34 | +34 | 9 | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Italy | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 60 | 32 | +28 | 8 | Quarterfinals |
| 3 | Hungary | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 64 | 35 | +29 | 7 | Quarterfinals |
| 4 | United States | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 59 | 53 | +6 | 4 | Quarterfinals |
| 5 | Japan (H) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 65 | 66 | −1 | 2 | |
| 6 | South Africa | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 20 | 116 | −96 | 0 | |
| 25 July 2021 (2021-07-25) 10:00 v | Report | South Africa | 2–21 | Italy | Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Viktor Salnichenko (KAZ), Stanko Ivanovski (MNE) |
| Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Viktor Salnichenko (KAZ), Stanko Ivanovski (MNE) |||
| 25 July 2021 (2021-07-25) 10:00 v | Report | Rezelman, Stone 1 | Goals | Di Fulvio 5 | Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Viktor Salnichenko (KAZ), Stanko Ivanovski (MNE) |
| 27 July 2021 (2021-07-27) 10:00 v | Report | South Africa | 3–20 | United States | Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Zhang Liang (CHN), Vojin Putniković (SRB) |
| Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Zhang Liang (CHN), Vojin Putniković (SRB) |||
| 27 July 2021 (2021-07-27) 10:00 v | Report | three players 1 | Goals | Hallock 4 | Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Zhang Liang (CHN), Vojin Putniković (SRB) |
| 29 July 2021 (2021-07-29) 10:00 v | Report | Hungary | 23–1 | South Africa | Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Daniel Daners (URU), Germán Moller (ARG) |
| Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Daniel Daners (URU), Germán Moller (ARG) |||
| 29 July 2021 (2021-07-29) 10:00 v | Report | Manhercz 5 | Goals | Rodda 1 | Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Daniel Daners (URU), Germán Moller (ARG) |
| 31 July 2021 (2021-07-31) 19:50 v | Report | South Africa | 5–28 | Greece | Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: John Waldow (NZL), Zhang Liang (CHN) |
| Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: John Waldow (NZL), Zhang Liang (CHN) |||
| 31 July 2021 (2021-07-31) 19:50 v | Report | Stone 2 | Goals | Fountoulis 5 | Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: John Waldow (NZL), Zhang Liang (CHN) |
| 2 August 2021 (2021-08-02) 18:20 v | Report | Japan | 24–9 | South Africa | Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: John Waldow (NZL), Vojin Putniković (SRB) |
| Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: John Waldow (NZL), Vojin Putniković (SRB) |||
| 2 August 2021 (2021-08-02) 18:20 v | Report | Adachi, Arai 4 | Goals | Neill 4 | Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: John Waldow (NZL), Vojin Putniković (SRB) |

### Women's tournament
#### Team roster

South Africa's squad was announced on 24 June 2021. Daniela Passoni and Kelsey White were replaced by Hannah Calvert and Nicola Macleod.
Head coach: Delaine Mentoor
| No. | Player | Pos. | L/R | Height | Weight | Date of birth (age) | Apps | OG/ Goals | Club |
| 1 | Meghan Maartens | 10GK | 1L | | | (1999-04-08)8 April 1999 (aged 22) | 18 | 0/0 | Madibaz |
| 2 | Yanah Gerber | 40CF | 2R | | | (2001-03-16)16 March 2001 (aged 20) | 15 | 0/0 | MantaRays |
| 3 | Georgie Moir | 20CB | 2R | | | (1997-12-05)5 December 1997 (aged 23) | 22 | 0/0 | Western Warriors |
| 4 | Boati Motau | 50D | 1L | | | (2002-09-25)25 September 2002 (aged 18) | 16 | 0/0 | OJ Eagles |
| 5 | Megan Sileno | 40CF | 2R | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | 82 kg (181 lb) | (1989-05-01)1 May 1989 (aged 32) | 45 | 0/0 | Stingrays |
| 6 | Amica Hallenndorff | 50D | 2R | 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in) | 60 kg (132 lb) | (1992-10-26)26 October 1992 (aged 28) | 49 | 0/0 | Western Warriors |
| 7 | Shakira January | 20CB | 2R | | | (2002-11-15)15 November 2002 (aged 18) | 15 | 0/0 | Tridents |
| 8 | Ashleigh Vaughn | 50D | 2R | | | (1999-05-17)17 May 1999 (aged 22) | 13 | 0/0 | Madibaz |
| 9 | Hannah Muller | 50D | 2R | | | (1999-11-16)16 November 1999 (aged 21) | 44 | 0/0 | Eagles |
| 10 | Jordan Wedderburn (C) | 50D | 2R | | | (2002-12-30)30 December 2002 (aged 18) | 27 | 0/0 | Water Warriors |
| 11 | Chloe Meecham | 20CB | 2R | | | (1999-02-16)16 February 1999 (aged 22) | 55 | 0/0 | High Performance |
| 12 | Nicola Macleod | 50D | 2R | | | (1997-05-14)14 May 1997 (aged 24) | 33 | 0/0 | Stingrays |
| 13 | Hannah Calvert | 10GK | 2R | | | (1997-11-27)27 November 1997 (aged 23) | 17 | 0/0 | Stellenbosch University |
| Average | Average | Average | Average | | | 22 years, 321 days | 28 | | |
Note: Age as of 23 July 2021 Source: South Africa Women | Tokyo 2020 Olympics Archived 2021-07-22 at the Wayback Machine

#### Group play

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Spain | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 71 | 37 | +34 | 6 | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Australia | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 46 | 33 | +13 | 6 | Quarterfinals |
| 3 | Netherlands | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 75 | 41 | +34 | 6 | Quarterfinals |
| 4 | Canada | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 48 | 39 | +9 | 2 | Quarterfinals |
| 5 | South Africa | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 97 | −90 | 0 | |
* 1 2 3 Spain 2 Pts, +5 GD; Netherlands 2 Pts, −2 GD; Australia 2 Pts, −3 GD. Spain first and after that the head-to head results between Australia and Netherlands (15–12) came into effect.
| 24 July 2021 (2021-07-24) 18:20 v | Report | South Africa | 4–29 | Spain | Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Asumi Tsuzaki (JPN), Ursula Wengenroth (SUI) |
| Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Asumi Tsuzaki (JPN), Ursula Wengenroth (SUI) |||
| 24 July 2021 (2021-07-24) 18:20 v | Report | Wedderburn 2 | Goals | Ruiz 5 | Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Asumi Tsuzaki (JPN), Ursula Wengenroth (SUI) |
| 28 July 2021 (2021-07-28) 15:30 v | Report | Canada | 21–1 | South Africa | Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Asumi Tsuzaki (JPN), John Waldow (NZL) |
| Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Asumi Tsuzaki (JPN), John Waldow (NZL) |||
| 28 July 2021 (2021-07-28) 15:30 v | Report | Sohi 4 | Goals | Moir 1 | Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Asumi Tsuzaki (JPN), John Waldow (NZL) |
| 30 July 2021 (2021-07-30) 14:00 v | Report | South Africa | 1–33 | Netherlands | Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Nicola Johnson (AUS), Ursula Wengenroth (SUI) |
| Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Nicola Johnson (AUS), Ursula Wengenroth (SUI) |||
| 30 July 2021 (2021-07-30) 14:00 v | Report | Wedderburn 1 | Goals | Keuning 6 | Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Nicola Johnson (AUS), Ursula Wengenroth (SUI) |
| 1 August 2021 (2021-08-01) 19:50 v | Report | Australia | 14–1 | South Africa | Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Daniel Daners (URU), Jeremy Cheng (SGP) |
| Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Daniel Daners (URU), Jeremy Cheng (SGP) |||
| 1 August 2021 (2021-08-01) 19:50 v | Report | five players 2 | Goals | Vaughan 1 | Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center Referees: Daniel Daners (URU), Jeremy Cheng (SGP) |