Sascoc elections: Mthethwa welcomes international intervention

Sports, Arts and Culture minister Nathi Mthethwa has welcomed intervention by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee in the local sports fraternity.

The two bodies have appointed an administrator to facilitate the long-overdue elections at the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc).

Olympic bodies step in ahead of Sascoc elections

The elections – initially scheduled for 28 March – have been held back due to a number of factors, including the COVID-19 outbreak.

Besides the pandemic, the sports body has also been rocked by controversy stemming from some members challenging its nomination process.

This came after four people were disqualified from standing, with another accusing then-acting Sascoc president Barry Hendricks of blocking her from standing.

The previously disqualified members have since been permitted to run, and the long-overdue elections will, when they eventually do take place, do so with assistance from a veteran sport administrator appointed by the IOC and the IPC.

Mthethwa welcomes intervention 

In a statement issued out by the Sports Ministry on Saturday, Mthethwa welcomed the move.

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“As a government, we strive to give space to sport organisations to address their own challenges and to only intervene as a last resort,” he said.

“However, being on the ground, we are best placed to sound alarms when we see shortcomings in the ability of sport administrators, to provide the kind of leadership required for stable and athlete-centered administration.

“It was in this context that our earlier invitation for the IOC and the IPC to intervene, and assist SASCOC to address its problems should be seen.

“On our side, we stand ready to cooperate with the appointed facilitator and wish him well on this important assignment.

“The Department wholly welcomes the action by the IOC and the IPC.”

Nathi Mthethwa, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister

The Department wholly welcomes the action by the IOC and the IPC.”

The four members contesting senior positions at Sascoc are Athletics SA president Aleck Skhosana‚ Netball SA president Cecilia Molokwane‚ Free State rugby president Jerry Segwaba and Northern Cape Sports Confederation head Farrell Moses .