09/05/2026
ASA ACTING PRESIDENT CALLS FOR MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
The Deputy President and Acting President, John Mathane, delivered a State of Athletics on Friday afternoon, giving assurance that the national federation is on a vigorous turnaround.
Addressing multiple issues of concern raised by Council Members and various stakeholders, Mathane said Athletics South Africa (ASA) is in the process of sweeping and cleaning itself from the top down. He was speaking to the media during a press conference held in Rosebank on Friday, where he outlined the way forward.
"ASA acknowledges the concerns raised regarding governance challenges and operational instability, but let me be clear that there will be no tolerance for poor governance, administrative failure, financial misconduct or lack of accountability in ASA," Mathane said. "Our current leadership has taken decisive actions to strengthen the governance system, enforce compliance across all provinces, ensure council resolutions are implemented without any delay, and we have created stability of operational structures within South Africa. We are moving from disorder to discipline."
Among other issues, Mathane said ASA was engaging directly with Central Gauteng Athletics and Athletics Mpumalanga, to strengthen oversight processes and enforcing accountability mechanisms in order to find a way to protect elite athletes who are not being paid their prize money at sanctioned events, as had been the case in these provinces in recent years.
He also confirmed that restrictions were being placed on individuals organising non-sanctioned events, including mass participation running events without following correct channels and procedures across the country. All athletics events must be sanctioned and registered with the resident ASA province.
According to Mathane, ASA has now advertised the positions for a permanent chief executive officer (CEO) and an external bookkeeper. He also dislosed that the national federation's constitutional committee was already in the process of amending the ASA constitution, and that ASA was establishing an independent ethics committee.
According to Mathane, independent processes were also being put in place to address the suspension of ASA President James Moloi, which is an exercise which ASA hopes will be exhausted by the end of May 2026.
In addition, Mathane confirmed that ASA had signed a deal with public broadcaster the SABC to ensure more people have access to coverage of South African athletics events.
"We are engaging with World Athletics, SASCOC and DSAC (Department of Sport, Arts and Culture) and our focus is very clear with them. We want to stabilise the federation, restore credibility, enforce accountability and rebuild confidence among the stakeholders," Mathane said. "We want clean governance and transparency, which is non-negotiable because we cannot rebuild athletics through personal battles or public hostility. We will rebuild athletics with unity, discipline and leadership."
Ends
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About Athletics South Africa:
Athletics South Africa (ASA) is the national governing body for the sport of athletics (including Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking) in South Africa, is a member of World Athletics and the Confederation of African Athletics. The association was formed in 1995 and is based in Johannesburg.
