About Us

WHAT WE DO

The Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA) exists to optimise the sporting performance and health of all South Africans through the execution, application, and dissemination of science. Since 1994, the Sports Science Institute of South Africa, in collaboration with UCT’s Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine (ESSM), has been a game-changer in sports performance, sports injury prevention, and promoting healthy living. We have transformed lives, changed practice, optimised performance and provided evidence to inform policy and advocate physical activity and sports participation for all South Africans. Our goal is to positively impact lives and to make our services, interventions and expertise accessible to all South Africa. Our vision is that our reach will have no boundaries and our impact will be globally meaningful.

SSISA has four strategic pillars: Wellness, Performance, Education and Research. Through each of these pillars, we bring people closer to realizing their full potential and to being their personal best.

HOW WE STARTED

The concept of the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA) was born from the idea of developing sporting icons in South Africa to promote national pride and unity. The initial vision was generated after extensive interaction between Morné du Plessis, Professor Tim Noakes and Johann Rupert. Their goal was to provide a facility that would primarily fund research and apply that research to sport, so that athletes of all disciplines could improve their performance. These visionaries also wanted to build public interest in the country’s top sportsmen and women, whose success would create shared pride in South Africa.

Meet Our People

What sets the people of SSISA apart from the rest; is the sense of belonging you feel when you walk through the doors. We aim to be friendly and professional at all times, and ensure that the results of our research are translated to reach the greater South Africa, and beyond. We are all united in why we are here – to give our personal best so that you can achieve yours.

Meet Our People

Careers

At the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA), we are committed to creating a workplace which provides an opportunity for all employees and potential employees to fully optimise their potential. We are continually searching for talented individuals to join our SSISA family and would like to invite you to apply for vacancies listed on this site that match your skills, qualifications and ambitions.

View Current Vacancies

PARTNER WITH US

The Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA) would like to invite potential partners to work together on our goal to positively impact lives and to make our services, activations and expertise accessible to all South Africa. We are looking for those who share our vision that our reach will go beyond boundaries and our impact will be meaningful on a global level.

Be your personal best

Through the translation and application of science – we strive to improve the health and sporting performance of South Africans. This brings us into contact with a very wide spectrum of individuals – who share the dream of being their personal best. We journey with them – whether it be on a fitness programme; on the road to an Olympics medal; in a laboratory on a research study;in an under-resourced community where needs are great;or whilst empowering them for a future career in the sports and health sciences. So, too, we would like to journey with you and help you to achieve your personal best.

A niche for your brand

SSISA has four strategic pillars: Wellness, Performance, Education and Research. In each of these pillars exist numerous opportunities for partnerships with brands who share our mission and our passion. Whether that be a collaboration onproduct development, content creation, an advocacy campaign, a series of workshops, social investment, employee wellness and/or team-building, health/fitness and sports performance activations, empowering under-resourced communities, or in the educational arena- there might well be a niche for your brand.

Tailor made. Value creating.

We believe in value creating partnerships. Partnerships that unlock value for consumers, employees and/or the businesses involved. We offer a range of partner options which are tailored to meet specific objectives that provide a valuable and measured return on investment. Benefits for your brand are experienced in a range of currencies, firstly – enhanced potential to achieve desired strategic objectives, and also broadened social impact, PR and media exposure, and enhanced credibility due to brand association. Further nuanced benefits include opportunities related to SSISA’s summits and courses, our fitness centre, high-performance gym and on our everyday fitness programmes, as well as the use of our conference facilities in Newlands, Cape Town. In addition, we are always open to new and innovative partnership ideas.