ASA okays Chuene for third term

Submitted by editor on 14 April 2008 - 11:52pm

Athletics South Africa (ASA) held its two-day Quadrennial General Meeting (QGM) in Kempton Park this weekend. The QGM and the executive of ASA have given their unequivocal support to the president Mr. Leonard Chuene and his executive.

Mr. Chuene was re-elected unopposed for a third term as President of ASA. Mr. Kakata Attlee Maponyane, the President of Limpopo Athletics, has been appointed vice-president, also unopposed.

Maponyane, the previous Track and Field chairman from Limpopo, ran unopposed after KZN's Simon Dlamini withdrew his nomination. Dlamini however retains his role on the board as an additional member.

The Board has been reconstituted as follows:

Mr. Leonard Chuene (President)
Mr. Kakata Maponyane (Vice President)
Ms. Snowy Matthews (Cross Country Chairperson)
Mr. Thomas Manoko (Road Running Chairperson)
Mr. Chris Britz (Track & Field Chairperson)

Additional members:

Ms. Larraine Lane
Ms. Lilly Motete
Mr. Godfrey Hammers
Dr. Simon Dlamini
Mr. Hendrick Mokganyetsi (Athletes Commission Chairperson)
Mr. Roger Adams (SASSU Athletics Chairperson)

The QGM has also resolved to appoint Mr. Molatelo Malehopo, with immediate effect as acting General Manager of ASA. He's taking over from Ms Linda Ferns, who is leaving the organisation to pursue other interests.

Below are the other resolutions taken by the council at the end of the two-day Annual General Meeting:

1. The Presidents of all provinces have resolved to sign a petition in support of ASA President Leonard Chuene, following an onslaught on his person and by extension the integrity of ASA and its executive.

The petition will be handed over to SASCOC for isolating the ASA President. SASCOC will also be petitioned to stop tarnishing the image and integrity of the ASA's constituency by insulting the organisation in the press.

2. The QGM concluded that ASA should continue with its rigorous transformation and developmental agenda without fear or favour.

3. The council reaffirms its mandate to ASA to vigorously pursue the transformation of SASCOC and will be requesting the Minister of Sports and Recreation to intervene in this regard.

4. Council rejected the charges levelled by SASCOC against its President and challenged SASCOC to charge the entire council and ASA as an organisation on all the charges levelled against its President.

5. The QGM resolved that if the matter between SASCOC and ASA continues to persist, then an AGM should be called, attended by the Minister of Sports and Recreation to resolve the matter once and for all.

6. The QGM concluded that ASA should reconsider its affiliation to SASCOC after the Beijing Olympics in September if outstanding matters between SASCOC and ASA are not resolved by then.

7. ASA is still willing to have open discussions with the leadership of SASCOC to find common ground without the mudslinging and battles fought in the press.

8. Provincial Presidents have been requested to communicate these resolutions to their constituencies and insist on coherent leadership.

9. SASA and SASSU will be represented at all structures within ASA. As part of their implementation process, they are expected to consolidate their fixture list to integrate with ASA's provincial fixture list. This should be implemented with immediate effect.

10. The QGM took strong exception to being called names by the Sunday Times newspaper. Council has resolved that a strong effort should be made to correct perceptions created by the Sunday Times that they are lackeys, when in effect they're driving change in SA athletics.