Athletics South Africa (ASA) President James Moloi is facing growing calls to step down amid allegations of misusing the organisation’s credit card for personal spending — a controversy that has ignited outrage across the athletics community.
Moloi, who has led ASA since May 2021, has been accused of making purchases at taverns, liquor stores, and fast-food chains such as KFC and Nando’s, as well as retail outlets like Pick n Pay. The detailed claims were first reported by Sunday World, prompting swift political and public response.
Moloi defended the spending in Parliament, insisting the transactions were work-related. However, doubts over his explanation have deepened after South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) President Barry Hendricks announced an independent audit to investigate the matter thoroughly.
The scandal comes at a difficult time for ASA, which was recently deregistered by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) over compliance issues. The organisation is also under scrutiny for the repayment of misallocated Lotto funds by acting CEO Terrence Magogodela.
With governance questions piling up and confidence in ASA’s leadership eroding, Moloi finds himself at the centre of a credibility crisis. Many within the athletics fraternity are demanding transparency and accountability, warning that the sport’s reputation and future stability hang in the balance.
