Parliament committee calls on Gayton McKenzie to dissolve Athletics SA board

The Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture has written to Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, recommending the dissolution of the board of Athletics South Africa (ASA).

Committee chairperson Joe McGluwa said the committee had exercised patience for an extended period, despite what he described as a lack of meaningful progress in resolving ASA’s governance challenges.

He said the committee had repeatedly raised concerns about the federation’s inability to provide stable leadership, maintain proper financial controls and safeguard athletes’ interests.

McGluwa highlighted ongoing leadership instability, particularly around the appointment of a permanent chief executive officer, as well as failures to ensure payment of prize money owed to athletes competing in sanctioned events.

Despite assurances from ASA, the department and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) that corrective steps would be taken, the committee said the situation had continued to deteriorate.

Following multiple oversight engagements, the committee resolved to recommend that the minister dissolve the current board, saying decisive intervention was necessary to restore stability, accountability and public confidence.

The committee has given McKenzie 14 working days to submit a written response to Parliament outlining the actions he intends to take.

IOL