AfriForum helps Chess SA with a court case against unlawful suspension

The civil rights organisation AfriForum brought a court application to set aside the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee’s (SASCOC) decision to suspend Chess SA. SASCOC suspended Chess SA on 22 April 2023 without any concrete reasons which is contrary to SASCOC’s procedures, as contained in its constitution. AfriForum strongly condemns this decision of SASCOC, as the reasons for the suspension are unfounded and unlawful.

Ronald Peters, manager of AfriForum Sport, says that SASCOC’s decision is just another example of how the official sports bodies in South Africa succumb to political pressure and show no backbone to promote and protect sporting codes – in this case chess. “It is clear that the legitimate council has been worked out by politically driven agendas, while this sport and its participants are now suffering from this power struggle,” says Peters.

Hendrik du Toit, President of Chess SA, explained that Chess SA is struggling with a group that has been trying to hijack the federation since 2017. “With little resources and the help of our legal team we averted an attempt to take over control of Chess SA in 2018. Chess SA was vindicated by a decision of a full bench of judges of the Supreme Court of Appeal in 2022,” says Du Toit. “Chess SA realised that they needed some expert help. AfriForum’s track record to assist organisations targeted by state organs speaks for itself and became a natural choice,” concludes Du Toit.

A court date for this case will be confirmed soon.

Click here for AfriForum’s interview with Chess SA.