Telkom VS Gaming successfully returned to Comic Con Africa from 28–31 August 2025, delivering one of South Africa’s most inclusive and exciting gaming showcases yet. This year, under the banner of “For All Gamers,” Telkom VS Gaming not only hosted immersive fan zones and creator activations — but also staged some of the country’s most competitive esports finals: the High School Esports League (HSEL), the Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) Masters and The Championship Finals.

The tournaments were made possible on the Openserve fibre network while the wifi was provided by BCX and Cisco on the Telkom VS Gaming Main Stage, where the energy and excitement of the Comic Con Africa crowd brought the competitive spirit of local esports to life. With shoutcasters, live streams, and more than R600 000 in prize pools on the line, Comic Con Africa 2025 became a milestone moment for competitive gaming in South Africa.

“Esports is a powerful gateway into gaming culture for young people across South Africa,” said Johann Von Backstrom, Telkom VS Gaming spokesperson. “Through Telkom’s ‘For All Gamers’ initiative, we’ve created a national stage where everyone, from high school learners to competitive esports teams, can showcase their skill, dedication, and passion. By providing access, support, and opportunities, Telkom is turning potential into achievement, proving that the power of possibility begins here. This initiative is not just about competition; it’s about nurturing talent, inspiring growth, and opening doors for the next generation of gamers.”

Three Major Tournaments, One Unforgettable Weekend

High School Esports League (HSEL)
More than 90 schools from across South Africa registered throughout the year for a shot at making the HSEL grand finals brought to you by Samsung. The top-performing learners in CS2 and Rocket League faced off on stage at Comic Con Africa in front of a live audience, for their share of the R180 000 prize pool. This tournament wasn’t just about bragging rights — it highlighted the next generation of local gaming talent and shone a spotlight on youth innovation and teamwork in a fast-growing global industry.

The winners of the HSEL tournaments were:

• CS2 – St John’s College, R45 000
• Rocket League – Curro Durbanville, R45 000

CS2 Masters

South Africa’s top CS2 teams battled it out for the Telkom VS Gaming Masters title on the latest G4 gaming monitors provided by Samsung, and world class PCs provided by Evetech for a share of the R300 000 prize pool. With the pressure of a live environment, this final proved to be one of the weekend’s biggest highlights.

The results of the CS2 Masters tournament were

• 1^st : Bravado Gaming, R150 000
• 2^nd : Kitsune, R70 000
• 3^rd : Monarch, R30 000
• 4^th : Nixuh, R14 000
• 5th – 8^th
  • Realms Esports, R9 000
  • PhaZe, R9 000
  • Latitude Gaming, R9 000
  • Synthesis CS2, R9 000

The Championship Finals

In addition, The Championship Finals saw top teams go head-to-head in Rocket League for their share of the R62 000 prize pool.

The winner of The Championship Finals was

• 1^st : Jika my baby, R25 000
• 2^nd : Poney No Jutsu, R12 000
• 3^rd : 2 Souls, R8 000
• 4^th : White Rabbit Gaming, R5 000
• 5^th-6^th
  • Haibo, R3 000
  • Omnius Gaming, R3 000
• 7^th – 8^th
  • Synthesis, R3 000
  • Unity Esports, R3 000

A Universe of Zones: Built For All Gamers

Beyond the tournaments, the Telkom VS Gaming floor was divided into five fully interactive zones — a multi-platform celebration of local gaming made possible by Telkom and partners Samsung, BCX and Openserve. Visitors experienced:

• Telkom VS Gaming Main Stage: Tournament finals, crowd challenges, and hosting Uthesh Moodley, the winner of a trip to New York. A highlight was the Cosplay competition, where Lufung “Fufu” Mdauwas was crowned the winner and walked away with R10 000.
• EAFC Free-to-Play Zone: Daily football competitions.
• Telkom Retail stand:  The Telkom stand showcased several Telkom promotions to keep gamers and show attendees excited and connected with an opportunity to win the 2026 grand prize of a trip to Tokyo Disneyland, and second prize of a Samsung Galaxy Z FOLD 7 to the value of R52,000. State of the art racing simulators provided by Cooler Master delighted the competing contestants and provided an opportunity to win R10 000 sponsored by Openserve.
• Telkom Smart Home Zone: A walk-through tech and gaming home with giveaways.
• Samsung Mobile Arena: Mobile challenges, a Gemini AI Cosplay Photobooth, and leaderboard prizes.

Beyond the Booth — A Movement in Motion

Telkom VS Gaming’s “For All Gamers” platform officially launched at Comic Con Africa 2025 — but this is just the beginning. Plans are already in motion for expanded content and activations for 2026, with the goal of growing not just awareness, but opportunities for South African gamers from all walks of life.

Whether it was a teen competing in their first LAN final, a pro team chasing glory, or a fan soaking it all in — Telkom VS Gaming had a place for everyone at Comic Con Africa 2025.

The post Telkom VS Gaming High School Esports League, CS2 Masters and The Championship Finals headlined a weekend built For All Gamers appeared first on Tech Scene ZA.

Level up, South Africa—Esports is about to get a major boost! The Toyota Gaming Engine (TTGE) is proud to announce an exciting new chapter in its mission to grow the Esports community across the country by making it more accessible. With the backing of Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM), the gaming world is about to become more inclusive than ever, breaking down barriers and giving aspiring gamers the chance to shine —whether they have the latest console or not.                  

“At Toyota, we believe in the power of sports to create a sense of inclusion and sustainable communities. It is for this reason that we are stepping into the game as a major sponsor of local Esports events. Our goal is clear – we want to uplift those who do not have access to gaming equipment. This extends beyond typical support – it is about unlocking potential in gamers who may not have had the chance to experience the thrill of competitive play.” says Glenn Crompton, Vice President of Marketing at Toyota South Africa Motors.  

Partnering with African Cyber Gaming League (ACGL), South Africa’s leading experts in Esports, TTGE is bringing this vision to life. This dynamic collaboration aims to make gaming accessible to all, whether you’re in the bustling streets of Johannesburg or the quiet suburbs of Cape Town. With the previous Corporate Social Responsibility- focused tournaments originating in the Western Cape, the Esports wave is expanding into Gauteng – opening doors for more players to step up and show off their skills.

While FIFA remains the heart of our tournaments, we’re excited to roll out mobile gaming competitions, making it even easier for gamers to join the action. Whether you’re on the phone or a PlayStation, there’s a tournament waiting for you and open to everyone.                                                                

And it doesn’t stop there—our top-performing players will have the opportunity of a lifetime. The best of the best will be mentored by pro gamers and will represent their communities at premier events like Comic Con Cape Town and Comic Con Africa and the ACGL Gaming Championship (AGC) Tournaments, where South Africa stop gaming talent competes on a national stage.

“By making Esports accessible, we are not just leveling the playing field; we are creating a space where anyone can thrive, game and grow. The future of Esports in South Africa is bright, and we invite everyone to be part of it.” concluded Glenn.

Here is a full schedule for the 2025 activities

• February 2025

                        o 6 February: Level One Event (Western Cape)

                         o 13 February: Level One Event (Western Cape)

                         o 20 February: Level One Event (Western Cape)

                         o 27 February: Level One Event (Western Cape)

• March 2025

                                o 1 March: Level One Event (Gauteng)

                                o 6 March: Level One Event (Western Cape)

                                o 13 March: Level One Event (Western Cape)

                                o 15 March: Level Two Event (Western Cape)

                                o 15 March: Level One Event (Gauteng)

                                o 27 March: Level One Event (Western Cape)

                                o 28 March: Level Three Event (TBC)

• April 2025

                                o 3 April: Level One Event (Western Cape)

                                o 5 April: Level One Event (Gauteng)

                                o 4 April: Level Three Event (TBC)

                                o 10  April: Level One Event (Western Cape)

                                o 17 April: Level One Event (Western Cape)

                                o 19 April: Level Two Event (Western Cape)

                                o 19 April: Level One Event (Gauteng)

                                o 24 April: Level One Event (Western Cape)

• May 2025

                                o 1 May: Level Four Event (Comic Con CPT)

                                o 3 May: Level Two Event (Gauteng)

                                o 8 May: Level One Event (Western Cape)

                                o 15 May: Level One Event (Western Cape)

                                o 17 May: Level One Event (Gauteng)

                                o 22 May: Level One Event (Western Cape)      

                                o 29 May: Level One Event (Western Cape)

                                o 30 May: Level Three Event (TBC)

• June 2025

                               o Level One (TBC)

                                o Level Two (TBC)

• July 2025

                                o Level One (TBC)

                                o Level Four (TBC) (AGC)

Get ready, SA. The game is on!

                                  Comic Con Cape Town – 1 – 4 May | CTICC 2

                           Comic Con Africa – 25 – 28 Sept | JHB Expo Centre

The post Toyota SA and The Toyota Gaming Engine (TTGE) in partnership with African Cyber Gaming League (ACGL) power up Esports in South Africa appeared first on Tech Scene ZA.