Sascoc, start cleaning up your mess

@wesbotton he definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results.”

These words are often wrongly attributed to renowned theoretical physicist Albert Einstein, but they are wise words nonetheless.

Sometimes, when something isn’t working, it’s best to reassess and start again.

After struggling in recent years with seemingly endless issues, perhaps that time has come for the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc).

Having performed a crucial role, Sascoc has ensured the country has been well represented at multi-sport Games over the last two Olympic cycles.

It has also supported Olympic and Paralympic athletes through its Operation Excellence programme, particularly in codes that usually don’t get much financial assistance.

But the chaos behind the scenes has gotten completely out of hand.

The list of federations and administrators who have faced Sascoc in legal battles is alarming for an organisation which is supposed to rely on arbitration.

Three senior staff members were sacked a couple of years ago, including the former CEO, facing allegations ranging from sexual harassment of an employee to spying at the office.

Subsequently, an independent ministerial inquiry found the Sascoc board to be dysfunctional, and a long list of changes were later enforced by government.

Squabbles between administrators have nonetheless continued, with suspended board member Barry Hendricks still sidelined due to an investigation into his ethical conduct, despite winning an arbitration award after being accused of blocking Ntambi Ravele’s nomination for the Sascoc presidency.

And, with sports minister Nathi Mthethwa insisting he does not have confidence that Sascoc can hold its own elections without further trouble, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) appointed former IOC member Sam Ramsamy to oversee the process. It’s developing into a script for a Hollywood movie.

Federations and athletes need funding and support from Sascoc, and it would require a major clean-up operation followed by a lengthy rebuilding phase.

It seems more and more likely that Sascoc is going to need to sweep its house clean from top to bottom to stay afloat. “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” Einstein did say that.