The President of Athletics South Africa (ASA) has been suspended after the conclusion of forensic investigations. Mr. James Moloi, the ASA President was found to have abused ASA’s credit card that was issued to him and disciplinary action was recommended.
In the investigations the Acting CEO was also found culpable whilst the Acting CFO was acquitted of all the charges.
The membership is reminded that Mr Moloi was placed on suspension pursuant to an investigation conducted by forensic accountants at the request of SASCOC that found evidence of apparent abuse of ASA’s credit card.
A back and forth between the disciplinary committee and the ASA board saw the disciplinary committee finding no evidence and presenting unsigned charges. This meant at that point that the disciplinary committee had to uplift the charges which was later overturned by the ASA board through a suspension.
The board on March 26th overwhelmingly resolved to a formal inquiry on the president be conducted by external parties and that an that an independent initiator be appointed to compile a charge sheet lead the charges against the president; that an independent senior advocate be appointed to preside over the disciplinary hearing.
The South African Parliament meanwhile weighed in on the matter by reccommending the dissolution of the Athletics South Africa board due to its inability to undertake its fiduciary duties and for its failure to protect and preserve the interests of athletes.
Through its Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture Chairperson Mr. Joe McGluwa, he said hat ASA is on the verge of collapse with no financial controls. He also cited an inability to prioritise critical ssues and infighting among board members.
“Ther is no way the entity could run an effective athletics programme with the level of brokenness that is manifest in this board. We are going to be wondering when we fail to bring home medals at international events, when we are managing chaos instead of running successful athletics programmes,” he said.
As the South African parliament also questioned the Sports Minister Gayton Mckenzie for failing to show up for the meeting despite having previously committed to resolve the ASA governance and administrative challenges.
The ASA president will meanwhile remain suspended until such a time that the disciplinary proceedings are finally determined.