President James Moloi and most of his board were yesterday re-elected for another four-year term at the helm of troubled Athletics South Africa (ASA), which reported a surplus of R30,713 for 2024.
Revenue totalled nearly R32m, with R12.68m coming from broadcast rights, R11.4m from membership fees and R3.3m from sponsorships.
John Mathane from Gauteng North replaced Shireen Noble as vice-president and Kesaoleboga Molotsane from Athletics Free State took over from Hendrick Mokganyetsi as the athletes’ representative.
Jean Verster (track and field), Enoch Skosana (road running) and Jakes Jacobs (cross country) retained their positions.
Of the four additional board members, Esther Malema and Seipati Ranthimo were returned, with Johanita Bester and Mike Masepe coming in.
Moloi survived a challenge from his predecessor Aleck Skhosana, who had been touted as his biggest rival. His campaign centred on rescuing a federation that had been through the wringer in recent times.
ASA was deregistered as a non-profit-company and faced averting disaster after it emerged that Athletics Free State president Steven Swarts was serving a suspended sentence for sexual assault.
A disciplinary hearing for Swarts, the stepfather of Wayde van Niekerk, started last month and is set to continue later this month, the Sunday Times understands.
But on the track, the country’s athletes have been performing, with some observers ascribing that to the policy of Moloi’s board selecting all athletes who achieved qualifying standards for world championships and Olympics — even when money was tight.
The previous board under Skhosana refused to take all the qualifiers.
While there are many critics of ASA, some athletes have found Moloi’s executive to be the most approachable.
The federation — a powerhouse in the early 2000s, with generous sponsorships — is still trying to recover from the administration of former president Leonard Chuene, which ended controversially in 2009.
Three presidents later and they’re still far from the glory days.
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