Sascoc ordered to reinstate Athletics SA president Aleck Skhosana to its board
● A year after controversially using two votes to remove Athletics SA (ASA) president Aleck Skhosana from its board, the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) has been ordered to reinstate him.
In a comedy of Sascoc errors following the body’s elections in 2016, the executive somehow co-opted one too many additional members, which meant its total of 15 exceeded the maximum 14 stipulated in the body’s constitution.
“How it came about . . . was never explained to me,” arbitrator Nazeer Cassim SC said in his ruling this week. “I draw the inference that it was improper or incompetent conduct on the part of the board and the then administrators of Sascoc, to make an appointment where there was no vacancy on the board.”
To remedy the situation in May last year, the board had to choose between Skhosana and Jerry Segwaba. Nine members to two decided Segwaba should go.
But four days later a second poll was held, with coopted members not given a vote, and this ended in a deadlock at five each.
President Gideon Sam used a casting vote to get rid of Skhosana.
ASA took the matter to arbitration.
Cassim said “no evidence or other factual material was placed before me to indicate or demonstrate any justifiable explanation from board members as to why the first vote ought to have been substituted by a second vote by the board”.
I draw the inference that it was improper or incompetent conduct
“I conclude that the [first] decision of the board . . . is valid and binding.”
During the ministerial committee of inquiry into Sascoc earlier this year it was alleged that Segwaba was an ally of Sam’s and that the executive was dysfunctional, split between the president and former CEO Tubby Reddy, who in January was fired for sexual harassment and other allegations.
The next Sascoc board meeting is scheduled for Friday, vice-president Barry Hendricks said.