South Africa has once again demonstrated its world-class shearing expertise after delivering an outstanding performance at the Golden Shears World Championships in Masterton, New Zealand.
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South African shearer Bonile Rabela successfully defended his title as Blade Shearing World Champion, while teammate Teboho Nyatsa secured the silver medal, underlining the country’s dominance in the discipline.
The victory marks the sixth consecutive world championship title for South Africa in the hand-shearing division, reinforcing the country’s reputation as one of the leading forces in international sheep shearing.
Often regarded as the pinnacle of global shearing competitions, the Golden Shears, first held in 1961, attracts the world’s top shearers and wool handlers from major sheep-producing nations such as New Zealand, Australia, the UK and South Africa. Competitors are judged not only on speed but also on precision, fleece quality and careful handling of the sheep.
Herman Archer, president of the South African Sheep Shearing Federation, shared his joy with Farmer’s Weekly and said that winning on New Zealand soil makes the achievement particularly meaningful.
“Masterton is almost like the world standard of shearing,” he said. “There is a lot of history in New Zealand around the sport, so to go there and beat the Kiwis in their own country is a very big achievement for us.”
Archer added that the championships draw large crowds and an atmosphere is present that few people would expect from a shearing event.
“Tickets were sold out even before the competition started. The atmosphere was almost like watching a rugby match, with spectators cheering and supporting their teams.”
Beyond speed, he noted that judges place strong emphasis on skill and professionalism.
“The shearers must handle the sheep carefully, avoid cutting the animal, and remove the wool properly. At the end of the day, it must be a clean and professional job,” he said.
South Africa also performed strongly in the team events, with Rabela and Nyatsa claiming silver in the hand-shearing team division. Further success followed in the All Nations hand-shearing division, where Nyatsa secured gold and Rabela bronze.
Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen issued a media statement congratulating the team, describing the achievement as a proud moment for South African agriculture.
“To maintain a world-title winning streak for six consecutive years is something we can be extremely proud of. It is a testament to the discipline, technical excellence and heritage of our rural workforce,” he said.
He added that the shearers’ performance highlights the high standards associated with the South African wool industry.
“Rabela and Nyatsa are ambassadors for our wool industry. Their ability to deliver a clean, efficient finish under pressure showcases the quality that makes South African wool a premium product on the global market.”
With the next championships three years away, South Africa’s shearing teams are already looking ahead, determined to build on their success and continue flying the country’s flag on the global shearing stage.
