Witness tells of cabals at Sascoc

It’s either you’re close to those who wield power at SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) or you’re out [in the could].

This was the assertion of former Athletics SA (ASA) general manager Molatelo Malehopo in his direct dig at incumbent ASA president Aleck Skhosana and his deputy Harold Adams before the Zulman Commission of Inquiry yesterday. The commission is probing maladministration at the organisation.

The pair, according to Malehopo, have a chequered past.

“If you’re not in their [Sascoc] camp you’ll be dealt with harshly even for a small transgression, but if you’re on their side you’ll be protected and nothing will happen to you,” Malehopo told the commission, chaired by retired judge Ralph Zulman.

“You have an existing forensic investigation report in KZN Athletics (KZNA) – which has been submitted to Sascoc and Sport Recreation SA – and it’s damning to Skhosana [but] nothing has been done.”

Zulman asked: “What did it find? Was there corruption?

Malehopo responded: “Yes, there was corruption; the complaints were lodged to Sascoc, but nothing was done.”

Zulman said the commission would request a copy of the report from KZNA president Sello Mokoena.

Malehopo also accused Sascoc of using the Caster Semenya gender row in 2009 “to remove certain people and the leadership of ASA”.

“I was one of those people who were suspended.”

Malehopo said that the takeover of ASA by Sascoc was unconstitutional.