Pascalinah Kabi
MASERU — A senior Lesotho Athletics Amateur Association (LAAA) official has been accused of soliciting bribes from local athletes in exchange for permits and clearances.
The damning accusations against LAAA spokesperson Sejanamane Maphathe were made before parliament’s social cluster portfolio committee on Friday.
“I went to the LAAA to ask for a permit to compete at the Maponya Mall Marathon last year and ntate Maphathe said it was the last he was issuing permits free of charge,” one of the athletes whose name is known to this paper told the committee.
“He (Maphathe) said in future he would sell the permits and he would need around M1 000 before issuing them out,” the athlete said.
But Maphathe denied the allegations saying: “This is a pure lie but I don’t have a problem with people saying whatever they want to say about me because they have a right to say whatever they want.”
“But it is very unfortunate that they are saying this because we’ve always been saying that permits are free. Why would I want them to pay and who would keep that money?” he said.
The allegations come after Maphathe and his seven-man committee proposed that local athletes pay as high as M60 000 for competing in international races.
The proposed LAAA constitutional amendments were drawn by Maphathe, Pati Mareka, Makhaola Serake, Thabiso Moqhali, Khethang Montso, Mokete Mpomane and Neo Ramarou.
The team wants the LAAA to amend the constitution which will force the athletes to pay between M5 000 and M60 000 for turning out for foreign clubs.
“It is recommended that for 21km races, seniors be charged from M15 000 to M20 000 and juniors be charged from M5 000 to M10 000.
“For 42 km, seniors (should) be charged between M20 000 and M30 000 while seniors will be charged between M30 000 and M60 000 for the Ultra Marathon.
“For track and field, seniors (should) be charged from M10 000 to M15 000, juniors from M7 000 to M10 000 and youth between M3 500 to M7 000.”
“For international transfers, it is recommended that the clubs and the federation (LAAA) must divide the training compensation and transfer fees in the ratio 4:1,” the committee said.
The social cluster portfolio committee had a meeting with the athletes and their South African sponsor Mr Price Athletes Club on Friday to find an amicable solution to the row between the athletes and LAAA.
Social cluster chairman Tahleho Mabetha said on Friday said he called the athletics association to the meeting but had since indicated they could not attend.
Mr Price Athletes Club was represented by Christopher Lionnet and Marten Nkoenya.
Meanwhile, the parliamentary committee has given LAAA until Wednesday to give seven Mr Price Athletics Club members permits to compete at the Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town on April 23.
“The social cluster portfolio committee humbly request that you attend to the need of providing permits to the athletes to participate in the Two Oceans Marathon,” read its letter to the LAAA.
The athletes are Teboho Sello, Mabuthile Lebopo, Warinyane Lebopo, Lebenya Nkoka, Motlokoa Nkhabutlane, Mpesela Ntlotsoeu and Moeketsi Mosuhli.
The committee has also ordered the LAAA to provide the athletes with permits after examining documentation that proves they were still members of their district clubs.
“The committee wished that the permits be at least provided to the athletes by Wednesday 13th April 2011.”