Women move against ‘sex pest’ tourney

● A storm has erupted over Volleyball SA’s (VSA) flagship tournament, the Tubby Reddy Classic (TRC), with a women’s group objecting to the event because it honours a man found guilty of sexual harassment in a disciplinary hearing.

Wits University was to host the TRC this coming week, but then cancelled the booking despite VSA having paid a R20,000 deposit, the federation said.

“It is unfortunate that the university had to succumb to outside pressure beyond its control to cancel our booking,” VSA president Anthony Mokoena said in a communique to members.

The tournament has been switched to the John Barrable hall on the East Rand, and the newly formed SA Women Fight Back (SAWFB) has approached the Ekurhuleni municipality.

Reddy, VSA’s former long-serving president who is now its life president, was fired as CEO of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) in 2018 after being found guilty of, among other things, sexually harassing a female employee.

Reddy, who didn’t attend the disciplinary hearing, has denied the charge and is fighting his case at the CCMA.

In its letter to Ekurhuleni, SAWFB referred to Reddy’s case as well as Sunday Times reports detailing how VSA had covered up for a coach who was fired in 2012 by the University of Johannesburg for sexual harassment.

“We would like to advise of the intention to petition such event and highlight those in support of the Tubby Reddy Classic ... in honour of ‘sex pest fired by Sascoc’,” the SAWFB wrote.

“Our grievance is that such acts against

It is unfortunate that the university had to ... cancel our booking

Anthony Mokoena

Volleyball SA president

women in sport are overlooked and trivialised ... We are aware that this could send an incorrect message to our youth that crimes against women are overlooked under certain circumstances.”

The Ekurhuleni municipality said the tournament would go ahead. “At this stage a binding contract has already been entered into.

“Furthermore, the City of Ekurhuleni avails its facilities to any member of the public subject to them adhering to the applicable tariffs and bylaws. Mr Tubby Reddy has hired the venue in accordance with such applicable bylaws, and he has not been convicted of a sexual offence or been enlisted on the register for sexual offenders.”

Mokoena declined to answer questions on this and other issues involving VSA.

One related to the decision to replace the Champions Cup as the flagship tournament with the TRC, which now serves as a qualifier for a Southern African tournament in December.

The issue was raised at the 2017 AGM, but critics say the matter was not put to a vote. The minutes make no reference to a ballot.

Some opponents of the TRC believe the event, scheduled to run from Tuesday to Saturday if there are sufficient teams, will not enjoy the same support as the Champions Cup, which in 2017 attracted 22 men’s teams and 13 women’s sides.

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