ASA president and board given seven days to resign
A storm is brewing in South African athletics as a group calling itself 'concerned athletes and administrators' calls for the immediate resignation of the Athletics South Africa (ASA) board during a fiery press conference in Milpark on July 28.
Citing deep-rooted governance failures and alleged misuse of funds, the group, led by ASA board member Dorah Mgwevu, athletics administrator Ernest Moikangoe, and athlete Keneilwe Sesing, issued a bold ultimatum that ASA President James Moloi and his board have seven days to step down or face protest action.
'We, the concerned stakeholders, administrators, civil society organisations and citizens of South Africa, demand the immediate resignation of the ASA leadership, including the CEO and entire board of directors,' said Moikangoe.
The veteran official said this follows recent allegations that Moloi had used ASA funds for personal gain. This was revealed last month during an oversight hearing by Parliament's Sports, Arts and Culture portfolio committee.
The hearing quizzed Moloi about using the federation's credit card at various taverns and liquor stores.
'The findings presented in parliament are a national embarrassment and betrayal of public trust. They paint a picture of an organisation in complete disarray where corruption, neglect of athletes, and gross abuse of funds have become institutionalised.
'We can no longer tolerate a leadership that has repeatedly failed to safeguard the integrity of sport in South Africa.'
The group demands the appointment of an interim committee and the launch of a full forensic investigation by the Special Investigating Unit into ASA financial activities from 2020 to 2025.
'Our sport is not a fiefdom for thieves and opportunists. ASA is meant to serve athletes – not to fund parties, taverns and corrupt deals,' Moikangoe said.
Should the ASA board fail to resign within seven days, Moikangoe said the group will stage a protest at ASA headquarters and petition World Athletics to suspend the federation until their demands are met.
Mgwevu echoed Moikangoe's sentiments, saying Moloi should step aside to allow SASCOC's investigation into ASA's financial irregularities – including whether funds were misused – to proceed without his interference.
'The president must step aside. We are aware of the ongoing investigation.
'How do we have this investigation when the accused person still has access to information and witnesses? Will this be a fair investigation?
'We appeal for Moloi to step aside and allow this investigation to take place fairly.'
In a statement, ASA condemned the press briefing, saying it was reviewing the matters raised in parliament.
'ASA is currently reviewing the recent matters raised in parliament and has pledged to fully cooperate with the SASCOC investigation.
'We are committed to transparency and accountability. We will work closely with SASCOC to address any concerns.'
Also Read: Bekker bags two medals at Southern African Youth Games
Also Read: Young Koekemoer has a bright future ahead after helping South Africa to gold
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
43 minutes ago
- IOL News
The absence of SA's ambassador not to blame for US 30% tariff hike, says Lamola
Minister Ronald Lamola says South Africa's absence of an ambassador in Washington is not the reason for the 30% US import tariffs. Image: AFP International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola said he does not believe South Africa's current lack of an ambassador in Washington has affected the country's ability to negotiate an agreement following the United States' decision to impose steep 30% tariffs on imports. Speaking at a joint media briefing on Monday at the Germiston Civic Centre in Ekurhuleni, alongside Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau, Lamola addressed the diplomatic fallout after former South African ambassador to the US Ebrahim Rasool was expelled in March. 'We had an ambassador in the US and that ambassador was expelled,' said Lamola. 'President (Cyril) Ramaphosa has always prioritised the US in terms of ambassadorial responsibility.' Lamola said the expulsion has complicated the process of appointing a new ambassador. 'The fact that our ambassador was expelled means that the new process to appoint the ambassador will not be as easy as it would have been when an ambassador had not been expelled,' he said. 'We have to take all careful consideration, all due diligence, and I can confirm that that process is at an advanced stage. The President, at the right time, will announce who will become the ambassador of South Africa to the US.' Lamola said that the appointment would be made solely by the president, in accordance with the Constitution. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The 30% tariffs, introduced by the administration of US President Donald Trump, are set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on August 8. While other African countries, such as Lesotho and Zimbabw,e will face a 15% tariff, South Africa has been singled out for a significantly steeper duty. Lamola, however, dismissed suggestions that the absence of an ambassador had weakened South Africa's negotiating position. 'Ambassadors do not negotiate any trade deals,' he said. 'The trade deal is being negotiated under the leadership of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), with coordination and support from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).' Lamola confirmed that South Africa currently has a chargé d'affaires (a diplomat) in Washington who engages with key stakeholders but does not lead negotiations. 'There are countries that do have ambassadors in Washington. They don't have a trade deal. So, the trade deal is negotiated by the relevant line function department. In this instance, it is the DTIC, which we are supporting, including our chargé d'affaires in the US, who does from time to time point to the relevant people,' he said. He further rejected claims that the absence of an ambassador directly caused South Africa's failure to secure a tariff exemption. 'If that were the case, all countries with ambassadors in Washington wouldn't be having the same challenges we're facing,' said Lamola. 'This is a global phenomenon, not a South African problem.' Rasool, who previously served as ambassador to the US from 2010 to 2015 during the Barack Obama administration, was reappointed in January 2025 under the Joe Biden and later Trump administrations. Rasool was dismissed in March after the remarks he made during a webinar hosted by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (Mistra), under the theme 'Implications of Changes in US Administrations for SA and Africa'. During the event, Rasool urged South Africans to familiarise themselves with the country's national interest framework, calling it a critical guide amid shifting global dynamics.
TimesLIVE
43 minutes ago
- TimesLIVE
South Africa steadfast in negotiating US trade deal
The departments of trade, industry & competition as well as international relations say they will continue to use available diplomatic channels to negotiate a mutually beneficial trade deal with the US. In a joint briefing on Monday in Germiston, minister of international relations Ronald Lamola said the South African government had been engaging the US at various levels with a view to ensure predictability in trade. However, the US decided to impose a 30% unilateral tariff on South Africa despite these efforts. South Africa faces the highest rate in sub-Saharan Africa, and from August 7 products exported to the US will have the 30% tariff. Lesotho and Zimbabwe were hit with a 15% tariff. 'It is unfortunate that this government's efforts in resetting the relationship with the US has been undermined by some actors within South African society,' Lamola said. Lamola added the unilateral tariffs have been implemented despite South Africa's submission of a comprehensive and ambitious Framework Deal in May, aimed at addressing the US trade deficit. 'The US is South Africa's third-biggest trading partner, with the EU and China being the first and second-largest trading partners,' he said. SA faces the highest rate in sub-Saharan Africa. Countries like Lesotho and Zimbabwe were hit with a 15% tariff. Minister Lamola says SA continues to negotiate with the US. @SowetanLIVE — Jeanette Chabalala 🇿🇦 (@J_chabalala) August 4, 2025 'South African exports do not compete with US producers and do not pose a threat to US industry. On the contrary, our exports are crucial inputs that support America's own industrial base. Our agriculture exports are even counter-seasonal, meaning they fill gaps in the US market, not replace domestic products. 'South Africa isn't just a trading partner — we're a major investor in the US, with our companies sustaining American jobs. Similarly, over 600 US companies in South Africa contribute to our industrial growth and create employment. Our goal is to preserve and grow these mutually beneficial relationships.' Some of the measures taken by government was the establishment of an export support desk, which Lamola said would serve as a direct point of contact for companies affected by the US tariff hike. 'The aim of this support measure is to support the diversification of export markets for increased resilience, and facilitate the entry into alternative markets for affected exporters. Jeanette Chabalala 🇿🇦 on Twitter / X 'The desk will provide updates on developments and tailored advisory services to exporters on alternative destinations, guidance on market entry processes, insights into compliance requirements and linkages to South African embassies and high commissions abroad.' There were also measures to assist companies to absorb the tariff and facilitate long-term resilience and growth strategies to protect jobs and productive capacity in South Africa. Lamola said the details of these measures were being finalised would be communicated soon. He added that the localisation fund support (LSF) stood ready to contribute to the national effort to support South African companies impacted by the imposition of 30% import tariffs by the US. 'In collaboration with the department of trade, industry & competition, the Industrial Development Corporation and other agencies — LSF will issue an open call from firms operating in affected value chains, with the aim of providing targeted competitiveness and efficiency support.' Lamola also said they were working with the department of labour on measures to mitigate potential job losses, using existing instruments within its entities that can be adjusted to respond to the current challenges.
The Citizen
43 minutes ago
- The Citizen
SA, Lesotho police chiefs meet over reports of military land-grab plans by foreign nationals
Lesotho is a landlocked country inside South Africa; some believe much of the country's land was lost to South Africa in the colonial period. A South African delegation made up of senior police and government officials met with their counterparts in Lesotho on Monday to discuss security concerns between the two countries. According to a statement by the South African Police Service (Saps), the two parties met in Maseru, Lesotho's capital. High on the agenda are reports of military training camps on South African farms, where Lesotho nationals of different ages are allegedly receiving military training for the purpose of reclaiming land that Lesotho lost to South Africa during the colonial period. The South African delegation comprises Deputy National Commissioner of Policing and Co-chair of the NATJOINTS, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, the head of Interpol in SA, a senior officer from Saps crime intelligence, and a senior officer from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). 'General Fannie Masemola will, during the engagement, appraise the Lesotho police chief on what Saps crime intelligence driven operations have yielded thus far. Advocate Borotho Matsoso and his delegation are also expected to present a report on what the Lesotho Mounted Police Service have uncovered thus far,' police spokesperson Athelenda Mathe said. The Citizen understands that the parties were also likely to discuss the alleged victimisation of Lesotho nationals, who allegedly face victimisation from South African authorities for different reasons. This includes police harassment and being denied media services in South African hospitals. Mathe said the officials from both countries will release a joint media statement after their meeting. Concerns of regional tension in Southern Africa A week ago, Lesotho's police commissioner, Borotho Matsoso, told Newsroom Afrika that their intelligence had discovered that men of different ages are being trained on South African farms to forcefully take back land from South Africa. This land includes parts of the Free State, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and Eastern Cape. 'We have discovered that they have been recruited to do some military training on some farms in South Africa,' Malata Naha. Matsoso said these camps could disturb the peace between Pretoria and Maseru should they be left to operate undisturbed. 'The target is Basotho citizens, and some South Africans are being recruited into this thing…they are organising themselves to reclaim the land that they say belongs to Basotho,' he said. Matsoso said the government of Lesotho was shocked to learn about the existence of these camps. 'Our intelligence tells us these people want to do something that is completely against the laws of South Africa,' he said. Matsoso told the channel that the recruits seemed prepared to use military techniques to demand the land they wanted from South Africa. Debate over colonial borders This is not the first time that Lesotho nationals have tried to reclaim land from South Africa. Some opposition parties have raised a debate on this matter in the Lesotho parliament. ALSO READ: Here's how many millions SA sends to Lesotho each month for water However, the government of Lesotho maintains that it will not contest the borders that were inherited before the country gained independence from Britain. The reports of a military training on farms also come after minister in the Presidency Khumbuzo Ntshavheni revealed that State Security had averted a number of coup attempts. She has given no further details about these coups. NOW READ: 'No arrest warrant for police crime boss Fannie Masemola' – IDAC
