At the 2023 South Africa National Championships, held in April in Gqeberha and conducted in long course metres, Sates won the gold medal and national title in the 200 metre freestyle on day one with a time of 1:47.92."Campionati Sudafrica. Giorno 1. Pieter Coetze: 100 dorso (52.78) Rec Africa. Tatjana Schoenmaker: 100 rana (1.05.82)" (in Italian). nuoto.com. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023. He followed up with another national title in an individual event the following day, winning the gold medal in the 200 metre individual medley with a time of 1:59.95.SwimSA TV (13 April 2023). "SA National Aquatic Championships 2023 Day 2 Finals". YouTube. Retrieved 13 April 2023. On the evening of day three, he won the gold medal in the 400 metre individual medley with a time of 4:22.26 after winning the bronze medal in the 100 metre freestyle with a time of 49.20 seconds, which was 0.01 seconds behind silver medalist Pieter Coetze.SwimSA TV (14 April 2023). "SA National Aquatic Championships 2023 Day 3 Finals". YouTube. Retrieved 14 April 2023. In the 100 metre butterfly on day four, he achieved a 2023 World Aquatics Championships qualifying time of 51.91 seconds in the final and won the silver medal.SwimSA TV (15 April 2023). "SA National Aquatic Championships 2023 Day 4 Finals" (time stamps, 1:09:11 to 1:12:43; 1:13:55 to 1:14:24). YouTube. Retrieved 15 April 2023."Campionati Sudafrica. Giorno 4. Chad Le Clos: 100 farfalla (51.37). Lara van Niekerk: 50 rana (29.78)" (in Italian). nuoto.com. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2023. He won the gold medal and national title in the 400 metre freestyle on the fifth and final day with a time of 3:55.48.SwimSA TV (16 April 2023). "SA National Aquatic Championships 2023 Day 5 Finals". YouTube. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
