The rocky events at the National Olympic Committee of South Africa (NOCSA) and the disclosure that Mr Sam Ramsamy is drawing a salary as president of this organization are matters of great concern to the South African Council of Churches.

Our concern is that this practice appears to be in conflict with NOCSA's own rules, and that it was not sanctioned by the Council which is the highest decision-making body, but by the executive of which he is part. If that is the case, our view is that a comprehensive investigation needs to be instituted against Ramsamy and NOCSA to assist this organization to regain its integrity. We are also concerned about the reaction adopted by NOCSA, which has resulted in the suspension of NOCSA executives who apparently challenged the ways things are run in this organization.

Not so long ago, the Sport Minister expressed reservations about NOCSA and the way in which Sam Ramsamy ran the organization, a point which was earlier underscored by the Pickard Commission, which ruled against football presidents drawing a salary. If indeed Ramsamy's behaviour by drawing a salary constitutes a breach of NOCSA's own regulations, the government should call for a full investigation into the affairs of this organization.

As South Africans, we must demand that administrators of public bodies stop enriching themselves unfairly at the expense of poverty-stricken organizations which can hardly keep their heads above water. We believe it is time we instill integrity and the culture of accountability among sport administrators.

We recall not so long ago when an investigation was launched into the affairs of the South African Football Association. The ruling by the Pickard Commission was that the organization's executive president should not draw a salary. We believe NOCSA must be held to similar high standards of integrity.

Our concern as the SACC is that while the new nation is preaching and encouraging all South Africans to embrace the concept of moral regeneration, there are sports administrators who believe this call is not meant for them. We need to dispel this erroneous belief quickly.

Issued by the spokesperson for the SACC, Fr Joe Mdhlela 083 641 1281