‘For heaven’s sake, he can’t give his girlfriend a pay rise’
David Isaacson Published:Mar 15, 2008
Love letters: Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile, right, first learnt of ASA president Leonard Chuene’s affair in a letter from the federation’s vice-president. Picture: Ramatsiyi Moholoa
Sports minister enters fray over athletics boss Chuene’s mistress
Sport Minister Makhenkesi Stofile has entered the fray over the love antics within Athletics South Africa , saying ASA president Leonard Chuene was “totally out of order” if he had organised a pay hike for his mistress.
The Sunday Times reported last week that Chuene, 55, had failed to disclose his romantic relationship with his personal assistant, Humile Bogatsu, 21, when he motivated for her salary to be increased from R5000 a month to R15000 .
“For heaven’s sake, he can’t be party to the determination of his girlfriend’s salary rise,” said Stofile, adding that he first learnt of the illicit love affair last year from a letter written by ASA’s vice-president, Simon Dlamini.
The letter — headlined “Allegations of financial and other irregularities surrounding an alleged romantic relationship between yourself and your personal assistant” — was sent to Chuene, and copied to Stofile and ASA’s executive members.
Dlamini did not mention the pay hike, but warned: “My lawyers advised me that the allegations against you are very serious indeed, and that if proved in a court of law, they might have serious implications not only for you, but for all the ASA executive.
“The legal implications might include, but not be limited to, lack of good judg ment, neglect of fiduciary duty, financial mismanagement, and indeed corruption or fraud.”
Stofile said he had phoned Chuene, who “of course denied involvement with his personal assistant”.
Dlamini withdrew the letter soon after issuing it, following a discussion with Chuene. He said: “There’s no issue, we’re working very well now.”
Meanwhile, the Sunday Times can report today that Chuene has received remuneration as ASA president, a fact he has always denied.
He earned nearly R400000 for the year ending February 29 2004, during which time he famously criticised Sam Ramsamy for drawing a salary as president of the then National Olympic Committee of SA (Nocsa).
Although not illegal, the preferred practice in SA sport is that elected officials should not hold salaried posts.
Chuene’s package in 2004 totalled R398276.94. According to an auditor’s working note, seen by the Sunday Times, his medical aid comprised R70746, and company car R58262.94.
The remaining R269268 apparently included cellphone and petrol costs. His basic was about R15000 a month.
He was given a bonus late last year “as a token of thanks for all the good work he has done”, said Dlamini, also chairman of ASA’s finance committee. He didn’t say how much Chuene received, but the Sunday Times has heard it was “substantial”.
Dlamini denied Chuene earned a salary, but said he gets reimbursed for out-of- pocket expenses.
The Sunday Times has also learnt that more than R2-million was stolen from ASA in 2002. An auditor’s working note reads: “During the audit, management advised that petty cash of R2099398 and emergency funds of R2000 had been stolen by the accounts clerk during the year. The theft of petty cash was not timeously detected.”
Then CEO Banele Sindani gave himself a loan of nearly R175000 without the board’s consent, also in 2002. “There was no formal approval by the board for a loan granted to the CEO during the year. At year-end the balance of the loan was R173311.95.”
ASA paid more than R30000 for a hired car for development manager Molatelo Malehopo from May-August 2004, after his personal vehicle had been stolen.
Sources claim that in spite of mounting allegations against Chuene, he and his cronies are unlikely to be toppled at next month’s ASA elections which, they insist, will be a sham. “I’ve seen people holding notes with names written down so they don’t forget who they’re supposed to vote for,” said one.
Sports observers said the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) should demand a forensic audit into ASA.
The National Sport and Recreation Amendment Act gives Sascoc the power to order an investigation into a federation beset by allegations of “any malpractice”.
Chuene and Sascoc are already involved in a spat over allegedly spurious comments the athletics boss made about the macro-body.
Butana Komphela, the outspoken chairman of Parliament’s sports committee, has already sided with Chuene . Using atrocious spelling, he fired off a letter to Sascoc accusing them of conducting a witch-hunt — spelt “witchant” — against Chuene.
Komphela even spelt Chuene’s name incorrectly, referring to him mostly as “Lonard”, and once as “Lornard”.