By Theodorah waga Mawasha
KGAPANE-Sedumi Ramatsi, an athlete from Rakwadu Athletics Club in Bolobedu, Greater Letaba, has come out guns blazing with allegations of underhandedness, lack of development and assistance for teams within Limpopo Province made against Athletics South Africa (ASA) and Limpopo Athletics (LIMA).
Ramatsi claims that these organizations operate like fly by night and that ASA has no office where issues can be directed to and this authenticates his allegations.
“I have been an athlete since 1983. All these years I have not been able to find an office within Limpopo province that caters for the needs of athletes. This raises an eyebrow. My biggest concern is that Limpopo athletes are not taken care of and I want that addressed so that future generations can benefit” he said.
“I have made several attempts since 2017 to table a proposal to establish district associations that will oversee athletics in Limpopo, but, to no avail. Something is fishy. All the meetings that were scheduled with me since 2017 up to today, have been canceled with no logical explanation”, he continued.
The athlete further claims that Limpopo teams lack sports facilities and equipment which hinders their progress. Furthermore, Ramatsi said that the last meeting scheduled to address these grievances was canceled and that he received an email thereafter, that Tzaneen Voice has seen, stating that he was suspended from all the programs involving ASA and LIMA.
“I once slept outside a hotel going to participate at a sports event because no accommodation is ever arranged for athletes when they travel to faraway places. This clearly demonstrates that these people don’t care about their people. I dropped my jaw when I received an email detailing my suspension without any formal engagement or explanation. These people are running a fly by night program “, Ramatsi alleged.
Tzaneen Voice made several attempts telephonically and via email to LIMA President Tshifhiwa Makhoshi to get a comment, however, there no was no correspondence.
Greater Letaba Municipality community service office coordinator Simon Moroatshehla was also not reached for comment. The municipality’s spokesperson, Lovers Maenetja referred the publication to LIMA
The Department of Sports Arts and Culture media liaison Jermina Kaka, promised to investigate the allegations and give us findings.
