Hendricks takes presidency as Sascoc Five get booted
In Trumpesque fashion, the Five alleged an unfair poll
Barry Hendricks was elected president of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) yesterday afternoon in a poll ignored by the five controversial members of the outgoing executive.
The quarrelsome quintet opted not to look into the eyes of their executioners who voted in a largely fresh board of eight, five of whom are women. Only two are black and three are white.
But Aleck Skhosana (athletics), the face of the Sascoc Five, did leave a parting shot, a letter to the Sascoc membership, accompanied by a legal opinion, insisting that Hendricks still be probed.
The Five, also comprising DA MP Kobus Marais (disability sport), Cecilia Molokwane (netball), Jerry Segwaba (rugby) and Kaya Majeke (bodybuilding), spent five months probing and then trying to discipline Hendricks, the acting president. An arbitrator ruled this week their process was flawed.
Hendricks said the new executive would have to make the call on an investigation. “I think the board must make that decision now. For me just to say it’s rubbish would be wrong.”
In Trumpesque fashion, the Five had alleged the election would not be free and fair, accusing Sam Ramsamy of favouritism.
They said Ramsamy, appointed as election facilitator by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), had flouted the constitution at a special general meeting in September by allowing a discussion on Hendricks’ disciplinary which had not been on the agenda.
But the arbitrator shot that down as well, pointing out the Sascoc constitution allows for the membership to add items on the day.
The parliamentary committee, however, fell for it, agreeing the ballot wouldn’t be free and fair, but sport minister Nathi Mthethwa gave the election the thumbs up when he addressed Sascoc yesterday morning.
The ballot — held on a virtual platform although about 70 people attended the meeting in person — went off seamlessly and the Sascoc Five disappeared in a near invisible cloud of support.
Hendricks scored 81 votes, or 50.94% of the poll, with Alan Fritz (swimming) getting 58. Skhosana and Majeke received 15 and five votes.
Lwandile Simelane (hockey) became the first black woman to be elected first vicepresident, beating eight others to the post.
The Five, none of whom linked to the meeting via Zoom, occupied all the bottom spots in this category, with Molokwane managing four votes, Skhosana three, Majeke two and Marais and Segwaba zero.
Debbie Alexander (triathlon), already on the board as the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) representative, is the second vice-president.
The other five board members are Fritz, Qondisa Ngwenya (gymnastics), Kim Pople (canoeing), Ilhaam Groenewald (university sport) and Moekie Grobbelaar (disability sport).