South Africa backs reform of its athletics federation
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Times of Eswatini
The South African government supports the World Athletics and Confederation of African Athletics roadmap to reform Athletics South Africa’s governance. Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie is calling, among other things, for the disciplinary decision of 6 October to be implemented without delay; it found president James Moloi guilty of two offences involving the use of funds, the Times of Eswatini reports.
The South African government supports the roadmap drawn up by World Athletics and the Confederation of African Athletics to reform the governance of Athletics South Africa (ASA), the national athletics federation, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie wrote in a letter dated 19 October 2026 to World Athletics chief executive Jon Ridgeon. He also endorses the proposed governance principles and timetable for revising the federation’s constitution, the Times of Eswatini reports.
The roadmap provides for the process to be monitored by Zakhele Dlamini, president of Athletics Eswatini, appointed as an independent observer in a joint letter on 15 October. The minister believes the federation’s problems are structural and will not be resolved by simply changing its leaders.
Gayton McKenzie has called on ASA to implement without delay the decision handed down on 6 October by its independent disciplinary panel, chaired by retired judge Basheer Waglay. The panel unanimously found federation president James Moloi guilty of two charges relating to the misuse of funds and recommended his removal as president and as a member of the executive council.
The Sports Ministry plans to work with the independent observer, monitor progress on the roadmap in ASA’s reports and facilitate exchanges with provincial sports authorities. Gayton McKenzie also pledged to work with the South African Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association and said he favoured reform over sanctions, arguing that athletes should not suffer the consequences of administrative failures, according to the Times of Eswatini.
Summary produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, under AFREEQUE’s editorial responsibility.
