While her name may not be as familiar to many football fans as the players who take to the pitch, Akhona has made history in her own right. She became the first female referee to officiate in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), breaking a significant barrier in South African football and proving that women deserve a place at every level of the beautiful game.
Her achievements extend far beyond South African borders. Akhona officiates under FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), COSAFA, the PSL and the South African Football Association (SAFA). On 9 January 2023, FIFA appointed her to the officiating pool for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, marking another historic milestone in her career.
She has also served as a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2024 CAF Super Cup, while also officiating at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. These appointments reflect the trust placed in her abilities and the remarkable progress she has made in a demanding and highly competitive profession.
But behind these achievements is a story that goes beyond football.
Akhona’s journey into refereeing was not paved with expensive equipment or endless resources. In fact, she started with a borrowed whistle. Her first stopwatch was given to her by another referee, while the uniform and flag she used when she first ran the line were also provided by someone who believed in giving her an opportunity.
Rather than allowing those challenges to define her journey, she has turned them into a reason to make things easier for the next generation.
Through the SheRef Foundation, Akhona has taken it upon herself to support and empower 60 young girls who aspire to become football referees. She uses her own money to host the Inter-Refs initiative and provide opportunities for aspiring female officials, driven by a personal commitment to ensure that other women do not have to experience the same challenges she faced when starting out.
Her philosophy is simple but powerful: she wants to make sure that no other woman has to struggle the way she did to find her place in football.
Away from the football field, Akhona holds a National Diploma in Human Resource Management from King Hintsa FET College and works as an administrator for the Department of Sport, demonstrating that her professional journey extends beyond the touchline.
Akhona Makalima is a reminder that representation matters, that opportunities can change lives and that breaking barriers means even more when you hold the door open for those coming behind you.
From borrowing her first whistle to officiating on the world stage, and now investing in the dreams of 60 young girls, her journey is about more than making history. It is about creating a lasting legacy.
She has earned her place in the game, and now she is making sure more women get the opportunity to do the same.