Eswatini to oversee Athletics South Africa’s reforms

MBABANE – World Athletics and the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) have jointly appointed SACA President Zakhele Dlamini as independent observer for sweeping constitutional reforms and fresh elections at Athletics South Africa (ASA).

The appointment was announced in a strongly-worded joint letter from Monaco dated October 15, 2026, addressed to the ASA Executive Board.

Dlamini, who also serves as President of Athletics Eswatini (AE) and Vice-President of CAA, has been tasked with overseeing one of the most turbulent governance periods in ASA’s recent history. He is Southern Africa Confederation of Athletics (SACA) president.

According to the letter, Dlamini led a fact-finding mission to South Africa on September 2 and 3, 2026 at the request of CAA and WA.

His report is said to have identified serious deficiencies in the governance and functioning of ASA, including divisions within the Executive Board, difficulties in collective decision-making, uncertainty over the authority of elected officials and the validity of certain decisions and conflicts of interest arising from overlapping responsibilities at national and provincial levels.

According to a letter seen by this publication, WA says these difficulties have contributed to institutional instability and have affected ASA’s ability to discharge its constitutional obligations, including towards its athletes.

The global body also acknowledged receipt of the findings of the independent disciplinary panel chaired by retired Judge Basheer Waglay, dated October 6, 2026, concerning disciplinary proceedings against ASA President James Moloi.

The panel unanimously found Moloi guilty on two charges relating to the misuse of ASA funds and determined that his removal as president and as a member of the Executive Board was the appropriate sanction.

According to IOL news, Moloi was initially suspended by the ASA board in October 2025 following a forensic investigation by Forvis Mazars into alleged financial misconduct.

The audit revealed that an ASA corporate credit card was used nearly 400 times between May 2023 and April 2024, exceeding spending limits and incurring over E300 000 in unauthorised or personal expenses.

World Athletics expects ASA to respect the findings and implement its decision without delay.

WA and CAA have concluded that ASA’s problems reflect structural weaknesses in its governance framework rather than isolated incidents and thus require a comprehensive solution.

Under Articles 9, 12 and 17 of the WA Constitution, the bodies have established a binding roadmap:

– ASA must finalise and formally adopt a revised Constitution within six months of the date of the letter.

– Within one month, ASA must provide WA and CAA with a detailed timetable for the revision and adoption process.

– Throughout the process, ASA is expected to work closely with WA and CAA, submit the revised provisions for review before adoption, and convene the ASA Council to consider and vote on the amendments.

– Following adoption of the new Constitution, fresh elections must be organised in accordance with its provisions, within a further period of three months.

While acknowledging that a draft Constitution recently prepared by ASA introduces many improvements, WA and CAA say it does not yet adequately address fundamental governance principles.

The revised Constitution must ensure that:

– ASA’s Council, acting as its General Assembly, is clearly established as the supreme decision-making body, with voting rights reserved for duly accredited representatives of its constituent members. Members of the Executive Board, Commissions or other appointed bodies must not receive additional voting rights by virtue of holding those positions.

– No individual may exercise multiple votes or represent more than one constituency at the same meeting, with clear rules to prevent multiple representations and address conflicts of interest.

– The respective powers and responsibilities of the Council, Executive Board, President, Commissions and administration are clearly defined, ensuring appropriate separation between governance, oversight and day-to-day management.

– Electoral, disciplinary, vetting and financial oversight mechanisms are sufficiently independent and protected from interference.

– Provisions on term limits, gender balance, athlete representation, transparency and financial accountability are established.

To accompany the process, the glibal and continental mother bodies have nominated AE president as an independent observer to the adoption of the new ASA Constitution and fresh elections.

“His role will be to support and monitor the implementation of the roadmap, facilitate dialogue where necessary, attend relevant meetings and report regularly to World Athletics and CAA,” the letter states.

His mandate will continue until the new ASA Constitution has been successfully ratified and elections have been conducted under the revised framework. ASA is expected to cooperate fully with him.

In a stark warning, WA said failure to adopt a satisfactory revised Constitution within the prescribed six-month period, or any deliberate obstruction of the agreed roadmap, would result in the matter being referred to the WA Council for consideration of sanctions under Article 13 of its Constitution.

Depending on the circumstances, these may include provisional suspension of ASA’s membership, subject to applicable constitutional grounds and procedures, including ASA’s right to respond.

“World Athletics is conscious of the potential consequences of such measures, particularly for South African athletes. Our clear preference is to avoid sanctions by supporting ASA in implementing the necessary reforms,” the letter adds.

The global body has given ASA 14 days from receipt of the letter to provide written confirmation of its commitment to the process.

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