Sascoc board ‘works for political and personal gain’
● A former South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) board member this week called on the country’s sports bosses to vote for a board that would work for the athletes rather than “political and personal gain”.
Merrill King, who resigned in January after seven years on the Sascoc executive, said in an e-mail addressed to sport presidents and CEOs that she had tried to make a difference for the athletes “but never had a hope amid the politics and personal attacks”.
She was responding to a Sascoc communique issued on Wednesday by acting president Aleck Skhosana aimed at quelling rising discontent following the suspension of Barry Hendricks as acting president.
Canoeing SA has called for a special general meeting to move a vote of no confidence in the board, which Hendricks said was dysfunctional, conflicted and was improperly constituted.
Skhosana and the board denied the claims, saying it was the same board Hendricks had been happy to work with before he was placed on a leave of absence pending investigations of ethical misconduct after allegations that he blocked the nomination of a potential presidential rival.
In her letter, King pointed out that she had resigned in January, but that her name was still on the Sascoc letterhead.
“Please be advised that I tendered my resignation in January this year after learning that … Skhosana had been voted in as acting vice-president at a board meeting I had not attended at the end of 2019.
“I wish to state that where reference is made, in the latest letter [by Skhosana], to the board being united in their decisions, it was without my input.”
King, who comes from the canoeing fraternity, then called on the federations to vote for the right candidates.
“May I also take a moment of your time to urge you to make a difference to the lives of our sportsmen and women by electing a board that represents the interests, hardships, goals and dreams of our athletes, rather than for political or personal gain.
“And lastly, may I apologise to each of you who trusted me with your vote, hoping I [would] in some small way make a difference to the athletes. Unfortunately, I spent seven years trying to do just that, but never had a hope amid the politics and personal attacks.”
The Sascoc elections had been scheduled for March 28, but were postponed amid the Covid-19 pandemic. They would probably have been delayed anyway because of four disqualified candidates on the ballot sheet.
This week, at arbitration, the four — Athletics SA president Skhosana, Netball SA president Cecilia Molokwane, Cheetahs rugby boss Jerry Segwaba and Northern Cape sports confederation chief Farrell Moses — won their right to stand.
There is a feeling in some quarters that there is nothing to stop the election, especially if it were to be done digitally.
Skhosana said the board would soon give its views.
It is understood the investigations of Hendricks should not delay the vote.
The jostling for position is clearly under way. It is understood that while some federations support the meeting, others don’t.
ASA, obviously backing Skhosana, fired back at King. “If you have resigned, and the Sascoc letterhead still reflects it [your name], it is an operational matter.
“Please take it up with the Sascoc CEO to make the required correction.”
Make a difference to our sportsmen and women
Merrill King
Former Sascoc board member