Cricketer Vernon Philander was named SouthAfrica's 'Sportsman of the Year' after losing the top title of 'Sports Star ofthe Year' to Olympic gold-medallist swimmer Chad Le Clos.
Le Clos won gold in the men's 200m butterfly at the LondonOlympic Games when he pipped legendary American Michael Phelps, and alsonotched up a silver in the men's 100m butterfly.
He bagged a million rands and a luxury BMW car by securingthe most votes from the South African public.
Other nominees for the award were Hashim Amla (cricket),Natalie du Toit (swimming), Siyabonga Nomvethe (soccer), Vernon Philander(cricket), Oscar Pistorius (athletics) and Caster Semenya (athletics).
Semenya was named the 'Sportswoman of the Year' after hersilver medal in the 800m in London.
Pistorius got the 'Sportsman of the Year with a Disability'after becoming the first amputee runner to compete at the Olympics, with DuToit was named Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability.
Cricket South Africa congratulated Philander for the honourhe got.
"Vernon has been an inspirational member of the ProteasCastle Lager Test squad during the past year," said Cricket South AfricaActing CEO Jacques Faul.
"To become the fastest player to take 50 Test matchwickets in more than 100 years is a phenomenal achievement on its own. But todo so in his debut year of Test match cricket is truly remarkable.
"To cap it all he was named Man of the Match in SouthAfrica's Test victory at Lord's this year when the Proteas claimed the No.1ranking in Test match cricket," he added.