Dear Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture,

Cycling SA Board and SASCOC covered up sexual harassment charges against Elton Davids ex Secretary General and Olympic Cycling Team leader 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Mr Davids was charged by a fellow team member during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and was sent back to SA and suspended by the federation pending the charges. Cycling SA held a disciplinary enquiry which ultimately resulted in the resignation from his role which was seen as an admission of guilt.

To date SASCOC has not taken any action despite these charges being laid in July 2021 and Mr Davids is roaming free in the community, he is reaching out to athletes offering to do sports massages placing these individuals at risk as he is not respecting the rules of the SASCOC and Olympic Safeguarding Policy of which he was the custodian.

Before the hearing findings could be released, Board members serving on SASCOC and Cycling SA Board advised Mr Davids to resign following a hearing advising that the outcome would be damning, no report was ever released.

Elton Davids falsely presented as hero from Cape flats actually very own Athlone Swindler. Using his status in sport to lure women and using them taking money and making false promises. Leaving a trail of women with relationships never fulfilled and monies loaned but not repaid.

This appears to be a cycle where this individual who has held senior positions in reputable sporting bodies has used this authority to abuse power in the sporting community for over 25 years. He has used his status and authority in sport for years to lure women into relationships to use them. He must be investigated and stopped. He recently offered to do massages but was effectively found guilty of sexual harassment in direct contravention of the SASCOC safeguarding policy but no action has been taken against him, he is still free to coach students and women, offer sports massages and seemingly there are no consequences not even a requirement for rehabilitation for his offenses.

What is the point of safeguarding policies in sport when the authorities meant to be the custodians of these policies don’t follow through and hold individuals accountable who overstep boundaries. Placing innocent people at risk of abuse and exploitation.

SASCOC need to address this matter as priority and make sure that the necessary action both for the safeguarding of the community but also for the remediation of someone who appears incapable of determining that their conduct is inappropriate. A bigger concern is the lack of ethics by senior members of the Cycling SA federation.