Latest news with #Molokwane
Daily Maverick
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
The maladministration games — South Africa's sports leadership just keeps dropping the ball
'It happens every week. Something is going on that's negative in sports. It does get depressing … It becomes really embarrassing and confusing when your major sports find themselves in positions like this. It's mainly about bad leadership and bad governance.' These were the lamentations of South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) president Barry Hendricks when he appeared in Parliament alongside Netball South Africa (NSA) for a routine oversight engagement by the parliamentarians in April. The twist to the customary visit by NSA came when the federation's president, Cecilia Molokwane, was suspended by World Netball. This was just a few days before NSA was set to appear before the Sport, Arts and Culture portfolio committee in Parliament. Molokwane's absence resulted in the committee members turning up the heat on the NSA members who were present, including vice-president Mami Diale and chief executive Modiegi Komane. Hendricks was caught in the crossfire, with the parliamentarians questioning the role of Sascoc with regard to the administrative issues that plague South African sports. They said Sascoc is sleeping on the job. The jabs thrown at Hendricks resulted in him responding with the aforementioned words as he defended how the umbrella body carries out its business. He went on to emphasise that Sascoc tries not to interfere with the internal affairs of the organisations under its wing, trusting that their dispute resolution processes will function as designed. Boardroom bullies? Before her suspension, Molokwane was accused of a number of administrative misdemeanours, including allegations that she is manipulating internal processes to her own benefit ahead of this year's NSA elections. Molokwane has regularly rubbished all the accusations that have followed her over the past few years, saying nameless and faceless accusations are baseless. She continues to sing from the same hymn book amid her suspension as World Netball investigates her. 'I vehemently deny having conducted myself in contravention of World Netball's disciplinary code and will vigorously defend any allegations which may subsequently be levelled against me,' Molokwane said. Alarmingly, Molokwane is not the only federation president to be accused of frustrating internal processes and scything those who oppose her. Daily Maverick has reported extensively on the alleged transgressions of South African Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan over the past few years. For some of them, such as allegedly illegally misusing Safa funds for his own benefit, Jordaan is facing charges of fraud. The Safa president, now in his third term, was arrested in November 2024 alongside Safa's chief financial officer, Gronie Hluyo. In spite of some calls for Jordaan and Hluyo to step aside pending the finalisation of their court case, which seems set to drag on for some time still, the two Safa chiefs continue to hold on to their positions. This is because Jordaan allegedly heads a cabal in the Safa national executive that is said to function on a 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours' basis. Just recently, Sunday World reported that Jordaan and Safa chief executive Lydia Monyepao are running the organisation like a fiefdom, in spite of the legal issues plaguing the president. The publication also said calls for Jordaan to step aside are growing louder. But Safa dismissed the report as misinformation. 'These individuals have targeted the president and CEO with attacks that have been launched through certain media outlets and social media, in an attempt to change the regime at Safa. At the heart of the campaign is a misinformation operation that is intended to create the impression that there is chaos and destruction at Safa,' it said. 'The campaign has escalated in recent weeks, with some even going as far as posting a series of untruths on their own personal social media accounts, attempting to create the impression that the president and the CEO do not consult when making decisions. 'Nothing could be further from the truth.' Lack of leaders Coincidentally, former internationally acclaimed soccer referee Andile 'Ace' Ncobo was recently arrested alongside his wife, Salome Ncobo, on charges of fraud and money laundering. Ahead of the 2018 Safa elections, many viewed Ncobo as someone who would be a perfect upstanding candidate to overthrow Jordaan. However, Ncobo pulled the plug on his election bid just a couple of months before the elections. Now he finds himself in a similar position to Jordaan, facing charges of fraud. This is in connection with a R15-million donation for school construction projects in the Eastern Cape. If someone like Ncobo, who was so respected before these allegations arose and charges were brought, can find himself in such a precarious position, it raises questions about the general quality of the available leaders in South African sport. Widespread issue Swimming South Africa, Athletics South Africa, Basketball South Africa, Boxing South Africa (before the instalment of its latest regime) and even historic sports events such as the Comrades Marathon and the Two Oceans Marathon have not been spared from negative publicity as a result of allegations of maladministration. In 2020, Thabang Moroe, who was the chief executive of Cricket South Africa at the time, was sacked by the organisation after a forensic report detailed allegations of corruption against him. Moroe subsequently denied these allegations, saying he was being targeted by the media because of his race. Cricket in South Africa continues to steadily recover from the carnage of this era, which also saw then president Chris Nenzani resign amid mounting public scrutiny. As a result of the negative publicity at the time, the cricket federation lost a number of sponsors and crucial revenue for its operations. That is the true cost of maladministration. No private entity wishes to be associated with organisations that constantly make headlines for all the wrong reasons, overshadowing the South African athletes who fly the country's flag high despite administrative ineptitude. Of course, the poor leadership that Sascoc's Hendricks speaks of transcends sport. In South Africa, it seems that even if people take up positions with the purest intentions, they transform into rogues as soon as they have power. If this were not the case too in politics, South Africa would be much further than it is currently – especially after the abolishment of apartheid. But because power corrupts, South Africa has grown at the pace of a tortoise, when it had the potential to sprint like a hare. DM This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.
The Citizen
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Netball South Africa in turmoil: Years of progress threatened
The crisis engulfing Netball South Africa (NSA) has been years in the making, former leaders and officials told The Witness, warning that the turmoil threatens the future of the sport. Several former officials said the developments at NSA headquarters are disturbing but 'not surprising', following the suspension of NSA president Cecilia Molokwane by World Netball amid allegations of misconduct and mismanagement. Molokwane, who has led NSA since 2017, was officially suspended by World Netball on April 21. The suspension follows allegations made by former associates, accusing her of racism and interference in player selection processes. Charmaine Singh, a veteran administrator and former NSA deputy president, said the situation is heartbreaking. 'I can't believe what is happening there. It is so sad and I'm heartbroken. I mean, to form the current democratic structures was not easy at all. 'We spent long hours and days pulling everybody together for unity, but look at this now,' said Singh. She added that the current leadership under Molokwane had been disappointing. 'I may be looking from afar or retired, but what is coming out from there is not good at all and does not sound nice for the future of netball. I am also disappointed with the current president,' Singh said. NSA vice-president Mami Diale declined to comment on the matter. Former NSA president Mimi Mthethwa also expressed dissatisfaction over the developments, saying they undermined years of progress. 'It started raising eyebrows when I heard that NSA hosted the Netball World Cup but there was no report about the event for two years,' said Mthethwa. 'Remember, NSA was given R90m to host the event by the government and yet, after the world cup, there was no report for two years. 'I am furious, shattered and destroyed because I see my hard work going down the drain.' When contacted by The Witness yesterday, Molokwane responded: 'Can I enjoy my day without netball please.' Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
IOL News
28-04-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Netball SA boss Cecilia Molokwane's suspension by World Netball raises questions over leadership bid
Cecilia Molokwane Cecilia Molokwane, the president of Netball SA, has been suspended by World Netball. Photo: ARMAND HOUGH Independent Media Image: ARMAND HOUGH Independent Media World Netball has suspended Cecilia Molokwane, the president of Netball South Africa (NSA) and Africa Netball, and a World Netball director, casting doubts on her bid for a third term as NSA leader. The reasons remain unclear, with talks said to be ongoing. The sport's world governing body has yet to disclose the specific charges, sending the rumour mill into overdrive in the netball community around the possible reasons for her suspension. Molokwane has been a prominent figure in South African netball since she first took over the NSA presidency in 2017. Over her two terms, she has been credited with propelling the Proteas to impressive finishes in recent Netball World Cups, and for hosting Africa's successful maiden World Cup tournament in Cape Town in 2023. She has listed hosting the showpiece as a highlight of her netball journey, as well as expanding the profile and reach of netball in the country. Molokwane has also been credited with securing top opposition for the national netball team, in their bid to crack the podium places at major international tournaments. Recent news of a Test series against New Zealand later this year followed earlier clashes against Jamaica and England. All three teams are ranked higher than the Proteas. At the recent launch of the 2025 Telkom National Netball League in Johannesburg, Molokwane declared her intention to run for a third term as NSA president in the elections later this year. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ However, Netball South Africa are saying that they have not been made aware of the specific allegations against their leader. 'Netball South Africa (NSA) acknowledges the correspondence received from World Netball concerning our president, Cecilia Molokwane,' they said in a statement. 'We are currently in discussions with World Netball regarding this matter. "As an organisation, NSA is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of governance, integrity, and transparency. We are committed to ensuring a fair and thorough process throughout this situation. 'In line with World Netball's guidelines, we will refrain from engaging in discussions about ongoing internal matters.' They have called for patience while the process unfolds.
The Citizen
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Top 10 stories of the day: Lawyers stealing from trust funds
Here's your daily news update: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. News today includes more than 500 cases in which lawyers are accused of stealing more than R1.4 billion of their clients' money from trust funds not being prosecuted. Meanwhile, the EFF has proposed an 'apartheid tax' for people who inherited wealth during that era, instead of a VAT increase. Furthermore, Netball South Africa appeared in front of the portfolio committee for the first time, just days after World Netball suspended Molokwane. Weather tomorrow: 23 April 2025 The weather service warns of severe thunderstorms resulting in heavy downpours and possible flooding in parts of the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and North West. Very cold weather and possible snow are forecast over the central and western parts of KwaZulu-Natal. Full weather forecast here. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way. Lawyers who steal: R1.4bn trust fund theft ignored More than 500 cases in which lawyers are accused of stealing more than R1.4 billion of their clients' money from trust funds have not been prosecuted. This was revealed by statistics recently released by the Legal Practice Fidelity Fund. Picture: iStock The figures show that 561 trust fund theft cases, in which lawyers allegedly stole R1.4 billion from clients, remain unprosecuted. They also revealed that only 59 convictions were made in seven years and just 25 resulted in jail time. CONTINUE READING: Lawyers who steal: R1.4bn trust fund theft ignored EFF calls for 'apartheid tax' counter instead of VAT hike [VIDEO] As the battle over the value-added tax (VAT) hike plays out in the Western Cape High Court, the EFF has proposed an 'apartheid tax' for people who inherited wealth during that era. Speaking to the media outside the court, EFF treasurer general Omphile Maotwe said other avenues could be taxed. EFF Treasurer General, Commissar Omphile Maotwe, alongside Western Cape Convener Commissar Rebecca Mathibe and provincial leadership at the High Court. Pic: X/@EFFWesternCape_ 'There's apartheid inheritance. Introduce an apartheid tax on everybody who inherited wealth in this country during apartheid, when you know what happened to our people. 'That will give you much more money than the R28 billion that you are looking for. But what is the easy target? The poor,' Maotwe said. CONTINUE READING: EFF calls for 'apartheid tax' counter instead of VAT hike [VIDEO] An 'embarrassment' and a 'mess': Netball SA taken to task by parliament Netball South Africa (NSA) was raked through the coals on Tuesday by the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, with members of parliament criticising the federation for not taking action against its president, Cecilia Molokwane, and for lengthy delays in releasing audited financial reports. The national netball body appeared in front of the portfolio committee for the first time, just days after World Netball suspended Molokwane. Cecilia Molokwane, the Netball SA president, was suspended last week by World Netball. Picture: Lubabalo Lesolle/Gallo Images 'While we acknowledge the growth and achievements of netball in our country, we also emphasise the importance of good governance, principles and values,' said the portfolio committee chairperson, Joseph McGluwa. CONTINUE READING: An 'embarrassment' and a 'mess': Netball SA taken to task by parliament Second suspect identified as gunman in Wynberg court shooting A second suspect has been identified in connection with the fatal shooting at Wynberg Magistrate's Court earlier this month. The police are still conducting a manhunt for a third suspect, who is also believed to be a gunman, still at large. A general view outside Wynberg Magistrate's Court on 16 January 2025. Picture: Gallo Images/Die Burger/Theo Jeptha Abubaker Adams, 24, was identified as the second suspect in the case. He appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. Adams faces murder charges for his alleged role in the 5 April shooting that claimed the life of Dingalomoya Chintso. CONTINUE READING: Second suspect identified as gunman in Wynberg court shooting 'ANC has chosen to push this VAT increase down the throats of South Africans' The DA says it is confident in its court challenge of the 2025 budget, claiming that the framework passed by parliament earlier this month shows its coalition partner, the ANC, does not care about the poor. The party and the EFF have both filed applications at the Western Cape High Court to interdict the budget. Minister Ecnoch Godongwana delivering Budget 2025. Picture: GCIS Speaking to The Citizen on Tuesday, DA spokesperson on finance Dr Mark Burke said its government of national unity (GNU) partner, the ANC, was forcing the budget on the country. 'The ANC has chosen to push this VAT increase down the throats of South Africans, and it has sought support outside of the partnership for this increase.' CONTINUE READING: 'ANC has chosen to push this VAT increase down the throats of South Africans' Here are five more stories of the day: Yesterday's News recap READ HERE: Top 10 stories of the day: Pope Francis dies | Easter road fatalities declining | Second suspect arrested for Wynberg court shooting
The Citizen
22-04-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
An 'embarrassment' and a ‘mess': Netball SA taken to task by parliament
The national netball body appeared in front of the portfolio committee just days after World Netball suspended NSA president Cecilia Molokwane. Netball South Africa (NSA) was raked through the coals on Tuesday by the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, with members of parliament criticising the federation for not taking action against its president, Cecilia Molokwane, and for lengthy delays in releasing audited financial reports. The national netball body appeared in front of the portfolio committee for the first time, just days after World Netball suspended Molokwane. 'While we acknowledge the growth and achievements of netball in our country, we also emphasise the importance of good governance, principles and values,' said the portfolio committee chairperson, Joseph McGluwa. 'Unfortunately, netball is currently embroiled in controversy with its president suspended, pending a disciplinary hearing. In short, Netball South Africa is in a mess.' Though the details of Molokwane's suspension remained unclear, World Netball had reacted to complaints it had received from NSA members, and it was believed they revolved around Molokwane leading a 'cabal' which was blocking individuals from standing for positions at upcoming NSA elections. World Netball sent letters to Molokwane, the NSA board and the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) stating that she could not have any involvement in the sport for 14 days until a disciplinary process was completed. While NSA had not taken any action against Molokwane, she did not attend the meeting, and NSA vice-president Mami Diale introduced herself as the acting president. Financial concerns Meanwhile, the NSA executive spent much of its time in front of the portfolio committee addressing financial concerns, such as the delayed release of audited financial statements, which included R90 million the federation had received from government over three years to organise the 2023 Netball World Cup held in Cape Town. Grilled on its financial statements from 2023 and 2024, the NSA board was able to explain some of the expenditure but was not able to provide specific details, including how R119,217 was spent on a 'social media influencer' and over R2-million was spent on 'consulting fees'. 'It's an embarrassment and an indictment on us as South Africans… and we are going to ensure accountability and transparency, especially in lieu of the fact that these are public funds,' said committee member Shameemah Salie. The NSA executive agreed to come back at a later stage to provide detailed explanations on its expenses in recent years. Head coach selection The netball body was also asked why it had appointed Jenny van Dyk as Proteas head coach last year ahead of black coaches who had also applied for the post. Van Dyk, a former head coach of the SA U-21 team and the Botswana national team, guided the Gauteng Jaguars to five successive titles in the Telkom Netball League between 2017 and 2021. 'We advertised the position and all coaches in this country had the opportunity to apply… but when it comes to coaching it's not always your CV that talks to you,' said Claudine Claassen, NSA director of demarcation and structures. 'You have to know the person can do the job, and we followed vigorous processes because we have set a goal to be one of the top teams in the world and to be on the podium at the 2027 World Cup.'
