SASCOC urges ASA to take a cautious approach in appointing a new CEO
9th July 2025
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SASCOC president Barry Hendricks has urged the newly elected Athletics South Africa (ASA) board to take a measured and careful approach in appointing a new CEO.
Terrence Magogodela has served as acting CEO for the past four years, and following last month’s elections, the federation is now seeking to make a permanent appointment.
Hendricks cautioned against rushing the process, noting that it took SASCOC six months to appoint Nozipho Jafta as CEO in January 2022, following the passing of Tubby Reddy.
"They've gotta go back now because they were just elected last month. They've gotta sit down and do a strategic workshop to determine what are the new strategies over the next four years and give them some time frames to achieve that,” Hendricks said.
“Of course with the permanent CEO there's a process of writing up the job description as well as going out into the market to find a competent person doing the interviews. In SASCOC that took up to six months, if you want to do a proper job and find the most competent person.
“You must remember I've been through many many sports where we've chosen CEO's but they failed. If one looks at basketball, if one looks at the host of other federations where the CEO's came and went.
“Cricket South Africa is an example and I'm not using that to berate those federations, I'm simply using it as an example that sometimes we do make mistakes, sometimes it's up to the individual but you've gotta take a step back and try and correct it.
“Even SASCOC for example, where we had to fire the previous CEO but if we don't take positive and constructive steps to correct something then I have a problem with that."
The former Gauteng Sports Confederation president told SABC Sport that SASCOC is ready to support ASA in the CEO appointment process and in strengthening the federation.
"SASCOC wants to grow with the organisation and assist the organisation to grow. We know where we came from, our past is not the most glorious in terms of governance but if you have proper leadership and proper systems in place then you can still turn the organisation around and develop confidence in people who want to give you money," he added.
