Reddy slams dismissal ‘farce’
Defiant former Sascoc chief executive to appeal against ‘flawed process’
TUBBY Reddy has defiantly labelled a South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) disciplinary hearing that has led to his dismissal as the organisation’s chief executive as a joke and a farce.
Reddy‚ who had been suspended with full pay‚ was informed in a letter by Sascoc president Gideon Sam that he had been dismissed – with immediate effect – following the hearing.
But Reddy has vowed to lodge an appeal and fight to keep his job.
“We always talk about how South
‘ All I am asking for is a fair chance to prove my innocence
Africa is a constitutional democracy, but I was not at the hearing‚” he said yesterday.
“I presented two medical certificates to show that I am not available to attend the hearing on the stipulated dates, but they decided to go ahead without me giving a proper opportunity to present my side of the story.
“We presented a 427-page document to the chairman of the hearing – the whole thing was a joke and a farce.
“All I am asking for is a fair chance to prove my innocence.”
Asked to comment on Reddy’s rejection of the findings‚ Sam said it was within Reddy’s rights to challenge the outcome.
“The board and the legal counsel took a decision and if he is not happy‚ there are legal steps that he must take‚” Sam said.
“He must follow the South African law and take the matter to another level. It is not about me.”
Reddy’s lawyer‚ Vasavan Samuel‚ said they would appeal against a “flawed process” that had led to the decision to dismiss his client.
“At no stage did he present his side of the story to the disciplinary committee‚” Samuel said.
“He notified the DC [disciplinary committee] that he was ill and was not available on the date of the hearing.
“Two medical certificates were provided‚ one from a doctor in the DRC [Democratic Republic of the Congo] where Reddy was visiting‚ and another from a local doctor.
“The DC did not respond to his request to postpone the DC until his health improved.
“The DC went ahead without evidence from the individual who was standing accused and the DC was a sham and invalid as it did not follow due process.”
More than R3-million is believed to have already been spent on the legal battle and it is evident that more money will be spent during the appeal process.