JOHANNESBURG – The five suspended provincial boards of Athletics South Africa (ASA) have issued an ultimatum to ASA President James Evans and Vice President Hendrick Ramaala to withdraw their suspensions or face a high court application.
The boards were suspended yesterday because they were planning to hold their own general meeting tonight despite repeated warnings that they were acting in violation of the body’s constitution.
The boards refuse to accept their suspension, saying the suspension letters were signed in their personal capacity rather than representing ASA’s board in accordance with ASA’s constitution.
They claim board members Blanche Moila and Andre Gobey resigned yesterday and weren’t part of the suspension process and have therefore questioned the constitutionality of the suspension.
Failure to withdraw the suspension will see Evans and Ramaala face an urgent high court application against them.
Meanwhile, Tubby Reddy, CEO of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc), has expressed concern over ASA’s move, saying he believes it could be to the detriment of athletics in South Africa.
He said more volatility in the sport could hamper, if not derail, the process and he warned that issues needed to be sorted out internally.
“The only people at this point in time that can try and resolve ASA’s problems are its own membership.”
ASA has scheduled a board meeting for tonight and the body’s AGM is scheduled to take place tomorrow.
