Sascoc conflict of interest to be probed

THE Sports and Recreation ministry says it will refer matters of conflict of interest involving some board members of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) for investigation.

In its ministerial committee report, the minister and her team found there was conflict of interest involving members of the board, who were also members of boards where money was raised or generated for Sascoc.

The companies detailed by the minister and her team included the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund Distributing Agency, the Thoroughbred Horse Racing Trust, Grind Investments (Pty) Ltd and Phumelela Gaming and Leisure Ltd.

The ministry’s director-general, Alec Moemi, told Parliament these entities received commissions or dividends.

“Although the committee requested further information in relation to these matters, none was forthcoming. These issues, in our view, give rise to potential conflict of interest,” said Moemi.

The ministry appeared before Parliament’s portfolio committee on sport and recreation.

It briefed the committee on the report of the ministerial committee appointed to investigate irregularities or malpractice in the governance and management of Sascoc.

The report also found that Sascoc’s interference with the internal affairs of the SA Football Association (Safa) was unprofessional and unethical.

In a letter attached to the dossier it submitted to the ministerial committee of inquiry‚ Safa had alleged that fired chief executive Tubby Reddy played a key role in the hurling of accusations without attempting to resolve problems.

Moemi told Parliament that they also found that “there had been a complete mismanagement of funds used for costs associated with international travel for members of the board and senior management”.