Latest news with #Pietermaritzburg-based
IOL News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Leadership battle looms as Mkasi eyes KZNA re-election
Steve Mkasi, left, is running for re-election as president of KZN Athletics. Photo: Supplied Veteran Pietermaritzburg-based coach Chris White had taken the initiative by announcing his intention to stand earlier this week. A bruising battle for leadership is anticipated, with the election scheduled to take place a week after the Comrades Marathon on June 8. Independent Media understands there are at least four potential candidates, including Mkasi, seeking election to the position but the true extent of the challenge will only become clear on Friday. KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) president Steve Mkasi has defended his record in office as he prepares to seek re-election, with the official nominations list for the organisation's presidency due to be released on Friday. Veteran athletics coach Chris White is ready to take on the established order at KwaZulu-Natal Athletics. Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Meanwhile Mkasi, a lawyer by profession, has emphasised the financial stability achieved under his leadership. The previous administration, led by Sello Mokoena, was placed under Athletics South Africa administration in 2018, with Mokoena stepping down the following year. Mkasi has also cited increased athlete participation at national and international levels, enhanced incentives for international competitors, and a rise in the number of competitions hosted across multiple disciplines by KZNA. He further highlighted the training of technical officials and coaches under the current board. 'I am proud of the work we have done. We have laid the perfect foundation for the future of a massively competitive and visible KZNA. 'We have increased the number of athletes benefitting from the High Performance programme from the 25 funded by the KwaZulu-Natal department of sport to an additional 50 athletes now supported by KZNA,' Mkasi told Independent Media Sport. A particular point of pride for Mkasi is the incorporation of schools and TVET colleges into the KZNA fold. 'Due to the financial difficulties experienced by government departments, particularly in education, we as a federation must create opportunities for young people to participate in our programmes and assist the education department in assembling teams to represent the KZN DOE at national competitions,' he said. However, critics have questioned the quality of competitions hosted by KZNA, suggesting a focus on quantity over quality. Mkasi's leadership style has also come under scrutiny. White is campaigning on a platform of greater integrity, accountability, and transparency within the federation. At least one athletics stakeholder approached by Independent Media declined to comment on the state of the sport in the province, citing fear of reprisals. Veteran coach Victor Vas, however, voiced strong criticism of both regional and national athletics leadership. Based in Salt Rock on the KZN North Coast, Vas has been an athletics coach for 40 years. 'Most federations in recent years have lost touch with reality — their sole purpose is to serve the athlete, not themselves,' he said. 'People with no knowledge or appreciation of athletics have taken up leadership positions and forgotten their fundamental duty: to serve athletes. 'Some of our elite athletes have succeeded not because of the federation but because of private support. The top athlete in KZN today, Zakithi Nene, a world-class 400m runner, would have struggled without private backing. The federation never supported him.' The race for control of KwaZulu-Natal Athletics looks set to be a fiery one — and the starter's gun has yet to be fired.
The Citizen
12-05-2025
- The Citizen
Police investigate killing of MK Party-linked businessman in Pietermaritzburg
A Pietermaritzburg businessman with links to the MK Party was gunned down outside his Thornville home in the early hours of yesterday morning. The Witness reports that Lucky Sibambo, who was also the national deputy organiser of the South African Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (Sacocso) — an MK Party affiliate championing the interests of NGOs and NPOs — was ambushed by unknown people as he arrived home from Durban. According to uMgungundlovu District police spokesperson Sergeant Gwala, while the motive for the murder is yet to be established, a preliminary investigation suggests that Sibambo's killing may be related to business. 'When police were called to the crime scene, they discovered that a man had been shot while inside his vehicle as he was about to enter his home. No arrests have been made and the police investigation is continuing,' he says. Sacocso president Sizwe Ngubane says the organisation is shocked by Sibambo's killing. 'He was a committed and dedicated activist who had the interests of the poor and marginalised close to his heart. He was loved and highly respected by many, and as Sacocso, we are not aware of any enemies he might have had. Our hope for now is for the police to track down and arrest his killers,' he adds. Sibambo, who was also involved in the forestry business, was the founder of Pietermaritzburg-based Duzi Forestry Engineers. The company, on its website, lists the empowerment of rural communities as one of its focus areas. The company aims to empower the youth of South Africa and uplift the rural forestry communities. 'Job creation, growing the economy of South Africa, especially in the manufacturing sector, and sustainability are at the heart of all the strides that Duzi Forestry Engineers take. 'We seek to develop and implement fully regulated plantation forest management and re-establishment plans to ensure that land use is maximised,' reads the company's profile. 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. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
