Eyes peeled as the big guns enter the Sascoc war

The ministerial inquiry into the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) is expected to erupt into a mud-slinging battle this week, as some the key role players in a long-running power struggle prepare to open cans of worms and release their dirty laundry in the conference room at Ellis Park stadium.

After being postponed in its second week, in order to allow the panel to review submissions, the process was delayed again last week as insufficient witnesses were available, but the inquiry committee was set to reconvene on Monday.

Among the individuals scheduled to appear over the next week included former Sascoc CEO Tubby Reddy, who was recently fired on multiple charges as a long-running power battle with Sascoc president Gideon Sam reached tipping point, and Sascoc lawyer Raymond Hack.

After listening to testimony from 20 individuals over the last three weeks, the inquiry committee had heard multiple allegations, with witnesses claiming the organisation was in a state of “complete chaos”, Sascoc staff were being “muzzled” by their bosses and infighting between the Sascoc executive and senior management was creating major stumbling blocks.

Among the allegations directed at individuals within the organisation were that Sascoc president Gideon Sam was a director of service provider Accelerate Sport and he had swept a damning and costly report into the SA Fitness Sport Aerobic Federation under the carpet.

The committee also heard that Sascoc deputy president Hajera Kajee had referred to the board as “dysfunctional” at a recent council meeting.

The three-member committee, led by retired judge Ralph Zulman, was appointed by previous sports minister Thulas Nxesi earlier this year to investigate governance issues in the Sascoc board.

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