Three former officials dismissed by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) have published an Open Letter disputing the reasons for their dismissal, and have alleged corruption at SASCOC. On 9 January, SASCOC dismissed its CEO Tubby Reddy, Chief Financial Officer Vinesh Maharaj, and staff member Jean Kelly.

The decision was only narrowly passed, with seven board members voting in favour of the two dismissals; whilst two members voted against the dismissals, two abstained and two International Olympic Committee (IOC) members ‘did not react’, read a SASCOC statement. It also revealed that Reddy was the subject of sexual harassment allegations, as well as allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption which involved the other two staff members.

In the Open Letter, published by InsideTheGames (PDF below), Reddy alleges that the sexual harassment allegations are fabricated as retaliation for stopping corruption involving a staff member. The letter also makes a number of other allegations of corruption involving SASCOC members.

A  Committee of Inquiry was established in August last year by Sport & Recreation South Africa (SRSA) to examine allegations of malpractice involving SASCOC. The Inquiry was to report its findings to Thulas Nxesi, South African Minister of Sport and Recreation before the end of the year, however  its mandate has now been extended to include the new allegations.

‘Both Committees will only have its pre-public hearings meeting as from 5 February 2018 in preparation of the public hearings which will in all likelihood commence on 12 February 2018 until April 2018’, read a statement issued yesterday. The other ministerial inquiry referred to in the statement is an investigation into the death and injury of spectators at an Orlando Pirates vs. Kaizer Chiefs match on 29 July last year.