Pieter du Toit

Cape Town – The revelation that Leonard Chuene bought a luxury vehicle for R1 from Athletics South Africa (ASA) is “sufficient proof of a plot against him”.

Butana Komphela, ANC MP and chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on sport, on Wednesday slammed ASA’s interim boss Ray Mali for making the revelation and accused him of conducting a “witch hunt”.

Mali said in a TV interview on Tuesday night that suspended ASA chief Chuene had bought a 2004 E-class Mercedez for only R1 from the athletics governing body.

ASA’s erstwhile management approved the price and decided that four other employees could acquire ASA vehicles for this price. It was apparently part of their remuneration packages.

“I won’t be told that there is not a plot against Chuene. Why did Mali have to go to the media first?” said Komphela.

He had called the minister and deputy minister to the ANC parliamentary study group on sport to report back on the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee’s (SASCOC) investigation at ASA.

Komphela believes that Mali, who was seconded by SASCOC to ASA, is overstepping the mark.

SASCOC announced earlier this month that a forensic investigation of ASA would be conducted and that criminal prosecution would be initiated if necessary.

Komphela said that he was just as big a supporter of good corporate governance as anyone else, but that he was concerned about Mali’s focus on Chuene.

“Yes, it is good when there is an inquiry, but what mandate do SASCOC have? Chuene also has to get a chance to put across his side of the story.”

Meanwhile, the DA have asked the national prosecuting authority’s special investigations unit to have a close look at ASA’s affairs.

Donald Lee, spokesperson on sport for the DA, said that a thorough and in-depth investigation of ASA was needed to clear the air.

ASA spokesperson Ethel Manyaka said that she was not allowed to comment on the matter of Chuene’s vehicle purchase.