Karate Chaos: The Shocking truth behind Karate South Africa

To Whom It May Concern

We, the concerned karate community in South Africa, are writing to address the urgent need for administrative intervention within the Karate South Africa National Federation (KSA). As karate practitioners (teachers and athletes), citizens, and supporters (families and parents) of the sport, we have become increasingly troubled and concerned.

It has become evident that the leadership and structures of KSA have failed in their statutory and fiduciary roles and responsibilities within the country. KSA has failed to promote good governance, effective leadership, sustainability, and good organizational citizenship. Ethical principles such as transparency, accountability, honesty, and integrity have regrettably been disregarded in the sport we love.

There is currently an unwanted flair of "tyranny" within KSA. The leaders within KSA have forcefully established a "bullying" control over the members of the sport. This is accompanied by numerous instances of financial mismanagement (evasion and poor declaration of income), lack of accountability for funds collected (inclusive of government funding), exorbitant costs to students/athletes (locally and internationally), negative utilization of beneficial owner company structures (unfair awarding of tenders to companies associated with Executive Committee Members), generally inflated costs on all linked items, scandalous cheating, stints of nepotism, victimization, unfair arbitrary decision-making, and fabricating and inflating membership numbers, to say the least.

These are only some of the deeply concerning matters at hand and are indicative of a systemic failure within the organization. We, the concerned karate community of the country, have no voice to complain anymore. There is severe victimization of dissenting voices within the karate community, and the so-called "founding fathers" of the sport within the country have been banished into exile merely for trying to stand up. Governance policies unfairly don’t allow for anyone outside of KSA to deal with their matters. They even exclude the mighty "Team South Africa" as a resolute complaint medium. They, in fact, have specific clauses locking out members that attempt to make the highest sporting body within the country aware of their mishaps, for example issuing a member with immediate suspension if you do go to "Team South Africa" to complain.

Since we, as the karate community, are deeply invested in the future and the reputation of karate and the athletes in South Africa, we implore the Minister of Sport to take swift and decisive action to address these issues. It is imperative that Karate South Africa be investigated.

The sport cannot go on like this, and we recommend that they be placed under the care and maintenance of an administrative interim committee for a period as decided by our honorable Minister in Office to conduct thorough investigations, implement necessary reforms, and restore the organization's credibility and integrity.

The future of karate in South Africa hinges on the establishment of a transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance structure that prioritizes the interests of its members and upholds the values of fairness, equity, and integrity. We urge you to heed the voices of concerned stakeholders and intervene decisively to ensure that karate in South Africa can thrive and flourish under responsible and ethical leadership all of the above which sufficient information is available.

Sign the petition now to demand swift action from the Minister of Sport to investigate and reform Karate South Africa.

Yours sincerely,

Kruben Pillay - Petitioner

Kruben Pillay    Contact the author of the petition