Last week, Grey College announced its first official Fortnite first team on Instagram, a sign of how esports is rapidly finding a home alongside traditional school sports. Competitive gaming is no longer a fringe activity, but a structured, league‑style sport embraced by schools across South Africa.

Here’s how the school esports leagues work, who organises it, how matches are played and more insights into Fortnite as a school sport in South Africa.

Across the country, growing leagues like the Nitro African Schools League (ASL), run by the African Cyber Gaming League (ACGL), are bringing titles such as Fortnite into organised competition. Adam Thomas-James, Education Lead for ACGL, told us that 2’389 learners from more than 125 schools signed up to compete in the Fortnite division last year, and this number is growing year on year.  

The league format works much like traditional sports: schools register teams on the ASL platform and are placed in divisions where they play weekly matches. Fixtures for Fortnite include multiple weeks of scheduled games, often with 20+ teams entering each session, with players earning points for placements and wins. 

We checked in with Stellenbosch’s Paul Roos Gimnasium e-sports coordinator JH Stoltz, who says the school has been actively involved in Fortnite for the past three years. Coaching sessions take place online in the evenings after other sports and cultural commitments on Discord. 

The team is coached by Bojox, a current professional Fortnite player and student at Stellenbosch University, bringing competitive insight into the school environment. 

Paul Roos competes against a wide range of schools through the official schools’ league platform, and last year had to overcome just under 200 teams to be crowned champions at the 2025 AGC tournament. 

Among their toughest opponents were teams from Hoërskool Klerksdorp, Die Anker and Edgemead High School. 

According to Stoltz, learners benefit from far more than just gameplay: “Participation develops teamwork, strategic thinking and real-time problem-solving skills during competition, as well as time management and communication throughout the season as players coordinate with teammates, coaches and organisers.” 

Matches are typically played in private lobbies set up through Fortnite’s custom match features, ensuring teams only face registered school opponents with fair competition and coaching supervision.

What was once casual gaming has now transformed into a recognised school sport, helping students build digital skills, strategic thinking and teamwork, all while representing their schools on the digital battlefield.

This news was first featured in our Feb ‘26 newsletter edition on virtual cards for business expenses.

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