Controversy surrounds ASA presidential elections amid candidate withdrawals

IT wouldn't be the elections for sports administrators without the bickering and the controversy, would it? Athletics South Africa's (ASA) presidential elections will take place in Johannesburg today amidst drama that has served to threaten the legitimacy of the event.

- MATSHELANE MAMABOLO

As if the mudslinging among the prime candidates was not enough, there have been two federations withdrawing their nominations to the detriment of athletes who were looking for an opportunity to serve at national level. Gladwin Mzazi and Kesa Moletsane are highly-achieved stars who were nominated for roles at ASA but their provinces Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) and Athletics Free State (AFS) have made the strange decision of withdrawing all their nominees. As such their hopes of serving have been dashed.

Talk in athletics is that the withdrawal decisions are part of a ploy to unseat current president James Moloi, who was nominated by the two federations and will thus lose out on those votes.

There is a suggestion that a group pushing for the return of former president Aleck Skhosana, who is the main challenger to Moloi, has connived to get the two provinces to withdraw their nominations.

“The elections are definitely going to happen,” a source within ASA told Independent Media.