Hollywoodbets Foundation Phase 1 Upgrade Live At SA Jockey Academy In Summerveld
The South African Jockey Academy (SAJA) marked a major milestone in its ongoing preservation and modernization efforts with the official opening of its newly renovated girls’ dormitories—completing the first phase of an extensive R17 million facility overhaul funded by the Hollywoodbets Foundation.
Nestled in Summerveld, Shongweni, SAJA serves as the primary incubator for South Africa’s top equestrian talent, instilling the discipline, academic background, and technical racecraft needed to compete on local and international tracks.
The unveiling marks the latest chapter in a long-term intervention by the Hollywoodbets Foundation. Speaking at the ceremony, Devin Heffer, Brand and Communications Manager at Hollywoodbets, emphasized that the partnership began as a critical rescue mission for the historic institution.
“These bursaries wasn’t just simply about paying school fees,” said Heffer. “It was about providing life-changing opportunities. It’s about what it means to young people and their families and providing a lifeline to this academy so that they could keep the doors open and continue the important role that they play in South African Horse Racing.”
Six years ago, financial distress threatened to force SAJA to permanently close its doors. The Hollywoodbets Foundation stepped in via its Student Support Programme, funding full bursaries for apprentices from underprivileged backgrounds—covering tuition, housing, meals, and specialized equestrian training.
The newly completed girls’ residence, which houses both local and international student jockeys, represents the first installment of the broader multi-million Rand campus redevelopment.
The campus upgrade expands upon previous infrastructure investments made by the Foundation at the Summerveld facility. Past joint projects include an IT infrastructure overhaul alongside tech partner Datacentrix, as well as the construction of wheelchair-accessible pathways and modernized ablution blocks to accommodate the South African Riding for the Disabled Association (SARDA Durban), which operates on the SAJA grounds.
With Phase 1 complete, the multi-phase R17 million project will continue rolling out improvements designed to secure the academy’s operational sustainability and maintain South Africa’s pipeline of elite jockey talent for decades to come.
