Pretoria: The 2012 South African Sports Star of the Year stands in line to win a whopping R1 million and a luxurious vehicle.

Sports and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula launched the annual Sport Awards with a cash prize of R3.7 million for the 19 categories at FNB stadium on Monday.

All nominees will receive a prize of R10 000 during the glittering awards ceremony to be held on Sunday, 4 November at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Nominees will be announced on 7 October following a nomination process that will close on 26 September.

The event is in collaboration between the Department of Sport and Recreation, South Africa’s Olympic governing body, SASCOC, SABC and the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.

Last year’s Sport Awards consisted of a total of 16 categories. This year, there are three new categories to make the total of 19.

These are School Team of the Year (new category); Developing School of the Year; Best Recreation Body of the Year (new category); Administrator of the Year; Sportsman of the Year; Sportsman of the Year with disability; Sportswoman of the year; Sportswoman of the year with disability; Team of the Year; Newcomer of the Year; Coach of the Year; Volunteer of the Year; Indigenous games star of the Year; Federation of the Year; Photographer of the Year; Journalist of the Year; Sports Star of the Year; Steve Tshwete lifetime achievement and Minister’s Awards ( Andrew Mlangeni Green Jacket, Excellence Awards & Ambassadors Awards).

Last year, the Proteas right-hand upper order batsman and medium-pace bowler, Hashim Amla, won the SA Sports Star of the Year.

However, the 29-year-old cricketer was not available to collect his award, which included R250 000 and a brand new Lexus vehicle.

The South African Sports Awards have been created to recognise and honour individuals and teams who have excelled both on and off the field.