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Athletics SA (ASA) is set to lose its headquarters, as Athletics House is scheduled to go under the hammer on Thursday.
This is a result of the federation’s long-standing legal battle with injured athlete Jan Blignaut. The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ordered the ASA to pay Blignaut R10.4 million in September last year.
Blignaut initially sued the ASA for close to R3 million for the head injuries he sustained while competing at an ASA-sanctioned track and field event six years ago.
But the ASA was embroiled in a leadership dispute at the time and failed to defend the action in court.
Blignaut’s legal representative Frikkie Jordaan said: “Since the incident, Blignaut has had to abandon his studies and is suffering from the sequela [complications] of the injuries he sustained, on a day-to-day basis.
“He has suffered enormous loss of amenities of life, past and future medical expenses and the ability to earn a decent living. He was one of the best young South African pole vaulters and had all the potential to go to the top.
“He truly was the golden boy of South African athletics and had his dream shattered by this incident,” said Jordaan.
According to Jordaan, the ASA failed to pay the damages despite the original amount being reduced. He did not disclose the final settlement figure.
Blignaut’s legal team this week confirmed to City Press that the sale of the Houghton property in Johannesburg was going ahead.
“The sale in execution of the immovable property will be held on [Thursday],” said Jordaan.
The property is estimated to be worth around R8.5 million, a figure used by the previous ASA leadership when they wanted to sell it in order to settle the federation’s debt in 2013. It is, however, an increase from the amount reflected in the ASA’s financial statements for the year ended December 2012, which was R6.5 million.
Last month, the ASA managed to avoid an auction of its furniture and equipment – estimated to be worth about R100 000 – but the sale of its headquarters was now going ahead, according to Jordaan.
“Despite demands and the extended time afforded to pay, the ASA failed to make payment of the capital or taxed costs.
“Payment is overdue and accruing interest. Blignaut remains reasonable with regard to the recovery of the capital and costs due in this matter.
“A reasonable settlement proposal [reduced capital amount and no interest] with payment terms was made by Blignaut to the ASA in January this year.
“The ASA failed to respond to this proposal,” Jordaan said.
He highlighted that the claim was not a “get-rich scheme or a witch-hunt against the ASA”.
“The ASA needs to show its bona fides and we can’t postpone any longer. Not once has the ASA contacted Blignaut; he is a mere shadow of the man he used to be.
“Blignaut has been severely affected by the injuries sustained in this incident. The incident could have easily been avoided by the ASA. It was not an easy trial,” he added.
ASA president Aleck Skhosana was noncommittal on the matter and would not reveal the federation’s plan to save its asset.
“Regarding that case, we can’t put the cart before the horse. We continue to negotiate with Blignaut’s lawyers,” he said.
He also refused to disclose the ASA’s sources of income, saying “we survive to see another day”.
Meanwhile, the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee said the ASA had assured them it would make every attempt to deal with the situation.
“We always encourage our federations to sort out their problems. The situation at the ASA is slightly different, because they are carrying baggage from the past. We don’t expect our federations to be in this position. We are confident that the ASA has a bail-out plan,” said the committee’s president, Gideon Sam.
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