ASA to extend election nomination deadline to give KZNA a second chance
Athletics South Africa (ASA) has decided to lift the the suspension of Kwa-Zulu Natal Athletics (KZNA) which will allow the regional federation to contest the May 8 elections. KZN Athletics was first placed under administration by the country's athletics governing body in November 2018 as the battle between then KZN boss Sello Mokoena and ASA President Aleck Skhosana deepened. Court battles then ensued between the regional federation and its mother body which saw Mokoena resign under a cloud and KZNA put back under administration.
Had this status quo remained then KZNA would have been unable to endorse candidates from their province to stand in the upcoming national elections. But ASA has now extended its election nomination deadline set for 3 March to 11 April which will allow KZNA to get their house in order in time for the elections. Last week, ASA held an urgent board meeting to address the KZNA administration issue.
It is understood that the ASA board members were divided on the matter which prompted an urgent virtual meeting to take place last Wednesday. A source close to the situation, who attended the actual meeting, told #TheTopRunner that KZNA were eventually given time to elect a new executive. "KZNA must elect a new board urgently as they cannot take part in the ASA elections if they are still under administration," revealed the source. This reprieve will allow its members to elect new office bearers and contest the ASA elections on 8 May at the Southern Sun Hotel in Kempton Park.
Also discussed during last week's urgent meeting was Athletics Gauteng North's (AGN) letter requesting for the ASA election nomination deadline to be extended. The AGN elections will take place at the Pilditch Stadium in Tshwane on 20 March where 209 members will cast their votes to elect a new board. "AGN cannot contest the elections as it is not known which members will be voted into the new board," said our source.
ASA boss Aleck Skhosana refused to shed light on what transpired at the board meeting. "You will get an update if and when the report of the meeting is ready," Skhosana told The Top Runner yesterday. Skhosana added that it was too early to share the details of the meeting publicly and left it at that. When pressed to elaborate what were the key issues discussed at the meeting he was reluctant to comment further.
But insiders suggest that ASA is yet to notify its members about the outcome of the board meeting which could be the main reason why the ASA boss refused to enlighten us on the matter. According to our sources, ASA will soon circulate a letter to its members to inform them of the outcome of the board meeting. "ASA will communicate with its members before the end of the week to notify them of the decisions taken at the board meeting. It would have been unfair for the elections to go on without KZNA and AGN. The KZNA saga divided members and it was an intense meeting," said the source.
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