News24 | Sascoc board suspends president Barry Hendricks with immediate effect

Sascoc president Barry Hendricks during a press conference.

Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

• Sascoc has suspended its president, Barry Hendricks, with immediate effect.
• It stressed that the suspension did not constitute a finding of wrongdoing and was intended to protect the integrity and independence of the process.
• First vice president Lwandile Simelane will assume Hendricks’ duties.
  
• For more, visit News24’s Sport homepage.

The SA Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee (Sascoc) has suspended its president, Barry Hendricks, with immediate effect, according to a statement issued on Wednesday.

This is in line with the organisation’s governance protocols and ongoing internal review processes.

Hendricks, who was appointed in November 2020, was suspended after anonymous complaints were lodged with the Sascoc board over alleged breaches of its safeguarding policy and Codes Handbook.

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This marks Hendricks’ second suspension from Sascoc, the first occurred in 2020 when he was removed as acting president.

The case was subsequently dismissed, and he was elected president later that same year.

The Sascoc board appointed retired Judge Basheer Waglay to investigate the anonymous complaints.

In his report, Waglay recommended that the complaints be referred to the Sascoc Judicial Body for further action, having found prima facie evidence to support the move.

“The suspension does not constitute a finding of wrongdoing. It is intended to protect the integrity and independence of the process and to enable the matters to be considered thoroughly and impartially by the Sascoc Judicial Body,” read the statement.

“Sascoc remains committed to transparency, accountability, good governance and the fair application of its constitution, by-laws and applicable policies. The board and management note that everybody is presumed innocent until proven guilty in an appropriate forum.

“The matter is now sub judice and the board requests everyone to respect due process. Accordingly, Sascoc will not comment further while the internal proceedings remain under way.”

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Sascoc’s vice president, Lwandile Simelane, will assume the president’s duties during this period to ensure continued leadership and stability.

Hendricks’ suspension completes a trifecta in South African sport, following the suspensions of Swimming South Africa president Alan Fritz by World Aquatics and Athletics South Africa president James Moloi last year.

The 63-year-old Hendricks still serves as chairman of Squash SA and president of the Gauteng Sports Council.