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No reply from Sports Minister

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Sport24 columnist Graeme Joffe (File)
Sport24 columnist Graeme Joffe (File)
I was going to give SASCOC a break this week until I heard a radio interview with a Lotto spokesperson, saying they were investigating several companies for misuse of funds. 

Does that mean Lotto is also investigating SASCOC, who are one of the biggest abusers of Lotto funding?

Obviously not, as it just so happens that the head of the Lotto distribution board is Hajera Kajee, a current vice-president of SASCOC.

And before Kajee, SASCOC president Gideon Sam served on the Lotto distribution board.

Millions and millions of Rands in Lotto money has “disappeared” from SASCOC coffers and I can assure you, it wasn’t for the benefit of SA athletes.
 
What about all the real needy charities, hundreds of them that do not get not a single cent from the Lotto? Yet, we have this disgusting bunch of so-called sports administrators, taking from the poor to fund their own lavish lifestyles.

Let alone, the continual decay of South African sport.

The sense of entitlement just disgusts me more and more.

Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula obviously doesn’t care as I requested a response to my last column and got nothing.

Not surprised though, as it’s all just too good for them as they milk the system for another four years.

However, I did get wind that none of the SASCOC big wigs were at the Virgin Active Awards last week, an event they normally like to parade at. So, maybe, just maybe, they are trying to keep their heads buried in the sand.

Nice try Joffers, there’s not enough sand!

Minister Mbalula has also conveniently put politics ahead of performance in naming a new board for the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS), which took office on December 1, 2012.

Mbalula appointed Dr Harold Adams to the board. Adams, you’ll remember featured prominently in the Caster Semenya debacle and he should still have many questions to answer for. I am also reliably informed that Adams, in his previous five year term as a SAIDS Board member, attended one board meeting and for the majority of others, was absent without apology.

Also surprising, is that the chairperson of the Appeals board is Dr Denver Hendricks, who replaces Alex Abercrombie. Hendricks is a previous Director-General in the Department but has no legal background, which would be expected of a chairperson of an appeals board.

Enough said about SAIDS, but it may only be a matter of time before we have a drugs scandal, like Australia, although we are good at sweeping that kind of stuff under the carpet.

I wonder now with AFCON 2013 done and dusted if the SAFA officials involved in the alleged match fixing will actually face the music?

Another question, is it not the norm for board and staff members of sec 21 companies to declare if they have an interest in other companies? You know where I’m going SASCOC. Perhaps, SASCOC CEO Tubby Reddy would like to divulge if he has any other business interests, using SASCOC-NOCSA facilities.

Since the NOCSA days, Fli-Afrika has been awarded the official rights to run the Olympic hospitality programme i.e. they sell packages to supporters for air tickets, event tickets and accommodation. This is really the only way a South African can get to the Olympics given the crackdown on black market and re-selling processes.
 
It would be interesting to see if there has ever been an open tender for this. 

Many of the testimonials on the Fli-Afrika website are from people, working for or close to SASCOC.

Let us also not forget that Hajeera Kajee's family (Sedgars) manufactured the controversial kit worn by our athletes at the Beijing Olympics.

Open tender?

With SASCOC, it seems as if you don’t need a tender as long as there’s something in it for them.

There hasn’t been any response from SASCOC to any of my allegations since their “childish fake ghost column” in August last year, written by their PR company (no tender). But perhaps, Mr Reddy will now take time out to respond to damning allegations above and the following questions re: Volleyball South Africa (VSA).

After all, he is president of VSA and volleyball is his “passion”.

1. Currently, all national tournaments are funded by the provinces and not VSA. Yet, VSA has got millions from Lotto and government. Where is the money going?
2. Should all funding received by VSA be used for volleyball development, why have we not seen many new players introduced to the provincial leagues?
3. VSA Executive committee have been standing since the 1990s, with the same faces who have not improved the sport, but remain for selfish reason’s or financial gain?
4. Executive members who run businesses to supply all VSA sport wear, and raising large bills over the years and their businesses supported and paid by VSA?
5. Sponsorships and suggestions/ involvement by key individuals to promote and televise the sport but declined by the federation. Why?
6. Disbanding the SA national indoor teams. What do players have to look forward to now?
7. Provincial federations do not receive a cent from Volleyball SA yet according to last year’s financials VSA received 11 million from Lotto and Department of Sport?
8. Why can’t you challenge for the presidency of the federation unless you have been an executive member for four consecutive years?

SASCOC had a meeting yesterday and invited Athletics SA people who had no mandate and are not there in an official capacity. A well calculated move while the president of ASA is on a business trip in Kenya. SASCOC president Gideon Sam then says there’s “no coup of ASA but they are in financial trouble.”

Why even bother quoting someone who has lied so many times.

The fact of the matter is that SASCOC left ASA in financial trouble when they took over as administrators following the whole Leonard Chuene debacle. ASA asked SASCOC for financial assistance in December. It is now mid-February and ASA have nearly dug themselves out of the hole without any help from SASCOC. 

So, why the intervention from SASCOC now?

Simple, it’s a power and greed game for them, using the racist card to keep a select group in charge and real sports people are not invited.   

SA sport is being run by the mafia!

Email Graeme at: graeme@butterbean.co.za

Catch Graeme Joffe on SportsFire every Monday and Thursday at 17:30 on Radio Today, 1485am in JHB, National on DStv audio channel 169 and streaming worldwide on www.1485.org.za. Follow Graeme Joffe on Twitter: @joffersmyboy

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