South African sport has been plunged into mourning following the death of Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden “Grootman” Adams, 25, while tributes have also flowed for former South Africa Under-18 rugby prop Luqobo “Bibo” Makwedini, 20, who reportedly died in France after a training session with his club, AS Béziers Hérault.
In Cape Town, police have opened an inquest docket into Adams’ death, after his body was discovered at a premises in Scotscheskloof. The circumstances remain under investigation, with limited official detail available beyond the confirmation of the inquest.
“Cape Town Central police station registered an inquest for investigation following the discovery of the body of a 25-year-old male at a premises in Military Road, Scotscheskloof,” Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed.
“Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation.”
According to information obtained, it was suggested Adams may have succumbed to suicide. Police have opened an inquest into the death, but at this stage, the exact details surrounding how he died remain unconfirmed in official police reporting beyond the inquest process.
What has been confirmed publicly is that Adams has died and that his club, Mamelodi Sundowns, has informed supporters and the public that they are mourning the loss of a player who had become central to one of the most successful chapters in modern South African football.
Mamelodi Sundowns confirmed the news in a statement that described Adams as a “highly talented” midfielder, and asked that his family’s privacy be respected.
“It is with heartfelt sorrow that Mamelodi Sundowns can confirm the passing of highly talented Bafana Bafana midfielder, Jayden Adams,” the club said in a statement.
“The Chairman and the Motsepe Family, the Board of Directors, Technical Team, Players, Management, Staff, Supporters of Mamelodi Sundowns FC and the entire Yellow Nation express their deepest condolences to the family and friends as we mourn the loss of Jayden.
“We pray that the Almighty God comforts and strengthens the Adams family, his friends and everyone that knew him.
“Sundowns respectfully ask that the family’s privacy be honoured as they grieve this profound loss.”
Adams’ passing has struck the football fraternity with particular force because it comes when he had reached what many regarded as the peak of his career: representing South Africa at the FIFA World Cup, and doing so as part of a squad that made history by reaching the knockout stages for the first time.
For supporters who watched him grow from a young talent into a senior professional, his nickname “Grootman” became more than a playful line. It was a reflection of how he carried himself — and a label he embraced publicly.
“I AM a grootman now!” Adams once said, replying to a question about his fresh bald look last season.
In the months that followed, those who tracked his career said his football began to mirror that maturity. Born and raised in Stellenbosch, he emerged through the Stellenbosch FC academy and quickly established himself in the senior ranks. At the club, he became known for composure in midfield, technical ability and a sharp eye for both pass and goal.
He gave Stellenbosch FC years of service, making 139 appearances and winning the Carling Knockout Cup during what was widely seen as the club’s upward trajectory under coach Steve Barker. His performances eventually earned him a high-profile move to Mamelodi Sundowns, a club synonymous with dominance in South African domestic football and a heavyweight on the African continent.
At Chloorkop, he adapted quickly, winning his first league title within six months. But his first full season was not without turbulence. Media rumours suggested he was unsettled and wanted to leave. He did not address those rumours in the details provided, but those around the club noted that he responded in the way many elite professionals do: by working his way back into the starting line-up.
The “Grootman” image became part of that story. The midfielder’s shift from trimmed haircuts to a clean bald “chiskop” look was seen by some fans as symbolic — a quieter, more grounded phase that matched his role on the pitch. In that period, Sundowns returned to the summit of African football, lifting their second CAF Champions League trophy. While they narrowly missed out on a record ninth consecutive league title, Adams’ contribution to their continental success cemented his status among supporters.
His growth at club level was mirrored in the national team set-up. Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos had previously dropped Adams for disciplinary issues during his time at Stellenbosch. But later, the veteran coach offered him a second chance, and Adams seized it — earning a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad and cementing himself as one of South Africa’s reliable midfield options.
He had already been part of the squad that won a bronze medal at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, and his World Cup involvement marked the continuation of a steady climb rather than a sudden breakthrough.
Adams’ final tournament also carried personal grief. Sports Minister Gayton Mckenzie recalled, in a tribute, how Adams played in the group-stage match against Czechia in Atlanta after learning only hours earlier that his 72-year-old grandmother, Marianna, had died.
“I will always remember watching Bafana’s match against Czechia in Atlanta,” Mckenzie said in an official statement.
“I recall noting how unusually quiet Jayden seemed on the bench in the second half after he had been substituted. It was only afterwards that we learnt he had taken to the field that day carrying the fresh grief of losing his grandmother, Marianna, who had passed away only hours before kick-off.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his condolences to the families of Adams and Makwedini, as the country absorbs the loss of two young sportsmen across different codes.
Makwedini, a former SA Under-18 rugby prop, reportedly died in France following a practice session with AS Béziers Hérault. The circumstances of his death were not set out in further detail in the information provided, but his passing has been noted as another blow to South African sport at a time when athletes abroad are increasingly visible and followed at home.
For Adams’ family, teammates, coaches and supporters, the immediate period ahead is expected to be filled with tributes and remembrance — and, for police, the completion of the inquest investigation. For the public, the sense of loss is sharpened by how much of his story still seemed to lie ahead: a midfielder entering his prime years, part of a national team rewriting history, and a club career still gathering trophies.
His death leaves a significant void — not only in Sundowns’ squad, but in a generation of South African football that has watched a player become a “Grootman” before the country’s eyes, only for that journey to end far too soon.
