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ASA board ousting seems right – Sascoc
It appears the process followed at an Athletics SA (ASA) annual general meeting to oust its board was constitutional, the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) said on Wednesday.
FILE PICTURE: Sam Ramsamy (IOC Member) during the Sports Industry Summit 2013 at Deloitte Johannesburg Office in Woodmead on October 24, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)
“Both Sascoc and SRSA [Sport and Recreation SA] take note of the interim chair and committee, which was elected in a special general meeting of ASA,” Sascoc said in the statement.
“Based on the information provided both to Sascoc and SRSA, it would appear that the provisions of the ASA constitution were complied with.”
Embattled ASA president James Evans and his board were ousted at an annual general meeting in Johannesburg at the end of November and replaced by a seven-member interim committee.
Evans said the AGM was invalid and unconstitutional as no item on the agenda was discussed, while the annual report and annual financial statements were not tabled or discussed.
Despite their suspension Evans and fellow board members Hendrick Ramaala and Geraldine Pillay continue to send out statements on behalf of the federation.
According to an ASA statement sent by the three on Friday, an application to the Arbitration Foundation of SA (AFSA) to find a resolution to the impasse had been filed.
“Because certain individuals are still claiming to have assumed control of Athletics South Africa and because they will not concede that they have not followed the law in doing so, it has become necessary to call for independent adjudication,” the statement read.
They said in terms of clause 31 of the ASA constitution, disputes had to be settled by arbitration through the AFSA.
Sascoc said South Africa’s IOC member Sam Ramsamy and IAAF representative Cheikh Thiare would be meeting various parties on January 24 and 25.
“It is envisaged that a final directive will be provided for the advancement of athletics in our country and the upliftment of their suspension from Sascoc,” it said.
– Sapa
