Motorsport SA (MSA) is at the centre of a storm in which they are accused of racially discriminating against a 16-year-old karting champion to stop him from competing in a prestigious international competition.
MSA, which is affiliated to international regulatory bodies, is responsible for control and regulation of all motoring sport in the country.
The family of karting race sensation Muhammad “Mo” Wally has accused MSA as well as Ed Murray Racing (EMR), a franchise of the Austria-based Rotax Racing, of blocking the young sensation from competing in the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals hosted at the Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno, Italy.
Mo’s father, Mohammed Wally, has accused MSA and EMR of excluding his son based on his race and Islamic beliefs.
The MSA court held a formal enquiry in May after a complaint of aggressive and intimidatory conduct was laid by EMR bosses Ed Murray, Mitch Coetzee and Vanessa Wood against Wally and his wife Maysurah Wally.
According to the court of enquiry document we have seen, the complainants claimed that during a championships event at the Zwartkops Raceway in Centurion in February, the
Wallys allegedly displayed aggressive and intimidatory conduct against Murray, Coetzee and Wood. They also accused the Wallys of bringing the MSA and motor sport into disrepute.
The hearing was first set down for April 10, however, it was postponed after Maysurah requested that it be set aside
until the beginning of May as the family were set to go away on pilgrimage from March 26 to April 26 April.
MSA granted the postponement request, and the online hearing was duly rescheduled to May 7, 2024.
However, according to the MSA, before the hearing, the Wallys wrote to inform them they would not attend the hearing.
They argued in a letter from their lawyer that they believed the matter was lis pendens, meaning it was inappropriate for the dispute to be litigated in the court in which the plea is raised.
However, MSA disputed the assertion and informed the Wallys that the hearing would proceed as scheduled.
Murray in his evidence claimed that Wally threatened to sue them and said he had evidence to show that they had been conspiring against him and his son.
“During the exchange, Mr Wally senior stated that Allah would strike Mr Murray down, that it does not cost a lot to arrange a hit in South Africa, and that he had already spent R2-million on legal fees with another matter.
“Mr Wally senior also stated that he was in contact with the FIA and 5 Bombardier Racing, for whom Mr Murray is the distributor in South Africa,” Murray alleges in an affidavit.
Coetzee said he investigated an incident in which Mo assumed a so-called “aero tuck” position during a race that was deemed dangerous.
Coetzee alleged that at the end of the race the Wallys came up to him and started shouting and screaming at Wood, who is the third complainant.
Wally’s wife was later found to have breached the General Competition Rules (GCRs) 172 and was suspended for six months during which period she would not be able to represent her son in any capacity. She was ordered to pay a fine of R30 000 to MSA.
No order was made against her husband for lack of jurisdiction against him.
Wally has denied the allegations levelled against him.
“It is all untrue. Why would I have issues against white people while my wife is also white herself. Those people hated the fact that my son was a better competitor, and he won all his national championships and when he had to go compete at the
Rotax event in Italy, they are coming up with all sorts of lies and removed him from his number one position and replaced him with another person. This is not fair, and I am going to fight to the bitter end to get justice for my son,” said Wally.
Despite being removed from the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals, Mo is also competing in another kart racing competition called ROK Cup Superfinal, which took place from Tuesday until yesterday in Lonato, Italy.
Have you actually asked MSA for their opinion on this.