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Johannesburg - The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) are expected to hand control of Athletics South Africa (ASA) back to the national federation within the next few months, following the completion of a forensic audit.
“The forensic audit has uncovered poor corporate governance, the alleged misappropriation of funds and tax evasion at Athletics South Africa,” SASCOC said in a statement on Monday.
The ASA board were suspended last November, along with three members of staff, and the interim administrators put in place by SASCOC have received escalating criticism from athletes, coaches and officials for their handling of the federation.
Three of the original nine interim board members - James Evans, Hendrick Ramaala and Geraldine Pillay - have already resigned and there have been calls for the Olympic governing body to hand the sport back to the athletics community.
The final forensic audit report, apparently held up after shredded documents and deleted computer files were discovered at the ASA head office in Houghton, will be made available to SASCOC by Friday.
The suspended ASA figures who have not resigned, including president Leonard Chuene and general manager Molatelo Malehopo, are still to face “disciplinary, criminal and civil charges”, SASCOC confirmed, adding that summonses will be issued from August 16.
"The SASCOC board has met with all necessary authorities in this case,” said SASCOC chief executive Tubby Reddy.
“The current ASA interim board has been briefed on the progress made and we have also kept the ministry of sport as well as the IAAF up to date with proceedings."
ASA administrator Ray Mali said he had met with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and confirmed the meeting had “gone well”. SASCOC will report back to the IAAF in November.
Evans, the president of Western Province Athletics, said he had been told that a new ASA board would be elected next month.
“SASCOC will have elections in September. That I have in writing,” Evans said. “So change is on its way.”
While Evans, however, has been joined by other administrators in pushing for Sascoc to relinquish control of ASA, elections cannot be held until disciplinary hearings are completed against the suspended figures.
And with Chuene and his board expected to fight to the bitter end, Evans and his colleagues will have to practice further patience with Sascoc set to remain in control for the immediate future.
