Swimming South Africa ducks and dives on questions about its governance structures

Swimming South Africa (SSA) has evaded answering questions about its governance structures put forward by the media and its own constituents. 

Written questions from at least one prominent SSA member about eligibility issues before last weekend’s SSA elections were ignored. Similarly, media attempts to probe goings-on at the body have been ignored. 

At the weekend, Daily Maverick reported that SSA held its quadrennial annual general meeting (QAGM) at which four members nominated to serve on the body’s next executive committee were, according to SSA’s constitution, ineligible for re-election. 

Read more: Swimming SA executive committee stalwarts running for new terms apparently in violation of own constitution

Before the publication of the article, Daily Maverick provided SSA’s president, Alan Fritz — who was one of the four members and stood unopposed for re-election — with the right of reply. 

Attempts to find out who was elected to the executive committee were unsuccessful. Since publication on Sunday, Daily Maverick has attempted to contact Fritz via WhatsApp messaging, email and phone calls. 

The only response Daily Maverick received was a WhatsApp message on Monday from Fritz, stating that he would phone back at a later stage, which he did not do.  

SSA members who oppose the current leaders were not invited to the QAGM.  

While they can ignore the media (although questions and probing won’t stop), the leaders of SSA are likely to face a high court review of their conduct brought by the law firm Becker Kemp Attorneys.  

If there is nothing untoward in their conduct, why not show constituents and the media the clauses in their constitution or in any other documentation which allow board members to serve upwards of three terms? This shouldn’t be a mystery. 

A familiar pattern