The Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture on Thursday wrote to the minister of sports, Gayton McKenzie, regarding its resolution to have Athletics South Africa’s (ASA) board dissolved.
The committee has given the minister 14 working days to provide Parliament with a written response outlining the actions that will be taken to address this matter.
Maladministration at ASA
The chairperson of the committee, Joe McGluwa, said the committee had been patient with ASA for far too long, despite there being no meaningful resolution of its governance challenges. The bone of contention is the suspension of ASA president James Moloi over findings of credit card abuse. There’s also general maladministration at the beleaguered federation that has resulted in athletes struggling and not benefitting.
“The committee has consistently raised concerns regarding the federation’s inability to provide stable governance leadership, maintain adequate financial controls and protect the interests of athletes,” said McGluwa.
“Leadership instability, especially relating to the appointment of a permanent chief executive officer and the failure to ensure payment of prize monies owed to athletes participating in sanctioned events, has begun to threaten the future of athletics in our country.”
Hollow promises of corrective measures
McGluwa added that despite repeated assurances by the federation, the department and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee that corrective measures would be implemented, the governance crisis continues to deteriorate.
“In light of the repeated failure of the current board to remedy the longstanding deficiencies and after exhausting parliamentary oversight mechanisms through multiple engagements, the committee has recommended that the minister take action to dissolve the current board. It is imperative to restore stability, accountability and public confidence in the federation. Governance failures within ASA are a matter of grave concern.”
- The Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture has urged Minister Gayton McKenzie to dissolve Athletics South Africa’s (ASA) board due to governance issues.
- The minister has been given 14 working days to respond with a plan to address the federation’s problems.
- ASA has faced ongoing maladministration, including the suspension of president James Moloi over credit card abuse and failure to provide stable leadership.
- The committee cited repeated failures in financial controls, leadership appointments, and unpaid athlete prize monies threatening the future of athletics.
- Despite promises of reform from ASA, the department, and SASCOC, the governance crisis persists, prompting the recommendation for board dissolution to restore stability and public trust.
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McGluwa added that despite repeated assurances by the federation, the department and the
“In light of the repeated failure of the current board to remedy the longstanding deficiencies and after exhausting parliamentary oversight mechanisms through multiple engagements, the committee has recommended that the minister take action to dissolve the current board. It is imperative to restore stability, accountability and public confidence in the federation. Governance failures within ASA are a matter of grave concern.”
