JOHANNESBURG – Sascoc president Gideon Sam admits the ministerial inquiry into the Olympic body and the negative press over the last two years has caused ‘paralysis’ in the running of the organisation.
In his opening address at Sascoc’s general meeting on Saturday, Sam said the organisation’s ability to execute its roles and duties “has somewhat been eroded in the last 18 months”.
“Our operational efficiency has been negatively affected by decreasing revenue,” Sam said. “We are on record as having welcomed the inquiry even though we had question marks on how it came about.
“None can deny that the existence of such an inquiry rightly or wrongly had a huge negative impact on our reputation, as our corporate governance and public trust was called into question.
“All of this has had a negative impact on the organisation’s ability to perform its functions and caused some confusion and paralysis in the functioning of Sascoc.”
Sports minister Tokozile Xasa on Friday announced a host of recommendations the South African Olympic body had to implement by the end of April 2019.
The ministerial committee tasked to look into the affairs of Sascoc found there was an absence of compliance with appropriate governance and procurement processes and policies.
It recommended the Sascoc president be independent and without any affiliation to any sport and recreation body while the person should be appointed by an independent committee.
As a board, we came to terms with the fact that all was not well in our organisation, said Sam. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Board members would also be limited to two, four year terms, while those that are appointed in consequence of their membership or affiliation with any sport and recreation body would have to relinquish their membership or affiliation when they are appointed.
Sam said Sascoc had started a process of organisational renewal long before the committee was constituted.
“As a board, we came to terms with the fact that all was not well in our organisation, and that something drastic needed to be done to stop the downward trajectory,” Sam said. “We began to institute a process of organisational renewal and austerity measures, without having to be cajoled by anyone else to do so.
“We must take our leading role as the custodians of sport in South Africa. It is critical that we do so or give way to another organisation.”
The ministerial committee was scathing in its assessment of the umbrella body describing the board as being dysfunctional.