Athletics South Africa Removes President James Moloi
The federation dismissed its president following a disciplinary inquiry that found him guilty of financial misconduct.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Track & Field
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Athletics South Africa has officially removed president James Moloi from office after a disciplinary inquiry found evidence of financial misconduct. The federation must now implement significant governance reforms to avoid a potential international suspension from World Athletics.
Why it matters
The removal is a direct response to a six-month ultimatum from World Athletics, which threatened to bar South African athletes from major international competitions if the federation fails to modernise. Failing to address these governance issues could jeopardise the country's prospects for future Olympic bids.
The federation faces a strict six-month deadline to execute mandated governance reforms or risk being barred from the 2027 World Athletics Championships. This requirement comes as the nation evaluates potential bids for the 2036 or 2040 Olympic Games.
The players
James Moloi
He is the former president of Athletics South Africa who was removed from office following findings of personal financial misconduct.
World Athletics
This is the international governing body for the sport of athletics that oversees global competitions and federation governance standards.
Basheer Waglay
He is a retired judge who served as the chair of the independent disciplinary inquiry into Athletics South Africa.
Zakhele Dlamini
He was appointed as an independent overseer to supervise the necessary constitutional redrafting for the federation.
John Mathane
He is the acting president of Athletics South Africa who currently faces allegations regarding procedural interference.
The details
An inquiry chaired by retired Judge Basheer Waglay determined that James Moloi misused a corporate credit card for personal expenses, including clothing, dining, and vehicle maintenance. World Athletics has subsequently rejected a draft constitution proposed by the board and appointed Zakhele Dlamini as an independent overseer to supervise the redrafting process.
Timeline
October 2026 saw the official removal of James Moloi from his position.
29 October 2026 marks the scheduled announcement of an Olympic bid city in Johannesburg.
2027 is the year scheduled for the World Athletics Championships in Beijing.
2028 is the year of the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
2036 or 2040 are the target years for a potential South African Olympic Games bid.
Season Trajectory
The federation's leadership crisis threatens the standing of South African athletes ahead of the 2027 World Athletics Championships. These internal failures could undermine the long-term national goal of securing a host city spot for the 2036 or 2040 Olympic Games.
The administrative instability directly threatens the eligibility of local athletes to compete in the 2027 World Athletics Championships. Continued failure to reform the board may result in a formal suspension, preventing South Africans from representing the country on the global stage.
The takeaway
This leadership transition highlights the critical necessity of fiscal transparency within national sporting federations. Organisations must maintain rigorous internal controls to ensure that executive actions do not jeopardise the international participation of their athletes.
What happens next
Sascoc is scheduled to announce a candidate host city for a future Olympic Games on 29 October 2026.
Further reading
For more on the current state of the sport, visit the Track & Field section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by IOL.
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