Johannesburg – Sports minister Fikile Mbalula says Athletics South Africa's (ASA) suspension from Sascoc is a serious matter which needs to be addressed.
Mbalula said he would meet with the Olympic body on Friday to get to grips with what led to ASA's suspension.
“It is important we treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves and ensure we prevail over this particular matter,” Mbalula said on Thursday.
“We've got the report from Sascoc and with our exchange tomorrow (Friday) it is important the minister of sport meets with the umbrella body to get the report.”
The suspension, handed down at the weekend, has already taken its toll, with the athletics contingent excluded from the team to represent the country at the World Student Games in Kazan, Russia, next month.
Athletes will also be barred from future South African teams participating at the Commonwealth Youth Games, Commonwealth Games, Anoca Youth Games, Zone VI Games, All Africa Games, Olympic Youth Games and Olympic Games until ASA is reinstated.
Sascoc president Gideon Sam said he hoped ASA would be reinstated as a member of the Olympic body before the next Sascoc council meeting in August, provided the sport sorted out its problems.
Mbalula said he was not looking for a short-term solution to the problem and hoped to draw up a road-map to address the current stalemate.
“It is not a matter that can be taken lightly because the decision itself affects the athletes,” Mbalula said.
“The role of the IAAF in the whole situation must be properly located.
“From that point, we should be in a position to define what needs to be done in terms of the roadmap.”
The athletics body received support from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which refused to recognise Sascoc-appointed ASA administrator Zola Majavu.
James Evans, the ASA president, said on Tuesday he had made a request to Mbalula for mediation.
While Mbalula did not confirm whether he received such a request, he said his door was open for anyone to discuss the matter with him.
“My real point of interest is not the immediate, it is the long term resolution of the problem in relation to athletics,” he said.
“My office has been open to meet everybody, so we are not going to close down on that particular matter.
“My interest really is not to exacerbate the situation, it is to bring about a resolution.”
He said his role in the process was not to undermine anyone or any statutes, but to find a solution which was in the best interest of athletics.
“Our first interaction tomorrow is to establish the facts, understand what is happening and look at our options,” Mbalula said.
“We are not a conflict resolution body, we can't turn a blind eye where there are problems in sport in terms of governance and maladministration.” – Sapa