Karate South Africa's membership with SASCOC has been de-registered with immediate effect ©KSA

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) has de-registered Karate South Africa's (KSA) membership with immediate effect.

The national body revealed it had reached the decision due to the inability of the KSA to adhere to the unconditional reinstatement of suspended officials and the merged inclusion of full contact karate.

In May, the SASCOC Board issued directives to the KSA towards the efficient functioning of their structures.

The KSA were directed to grant reinstatement to individuals who were implicated in a forensic audit report of karate, given the fact that the public prosecutor declined to prosecute the individuals, citing insufficient evidence.

In July, the Board set-up a three-person committee, chaired by Kobus Marais alongside Jerry Segwaba and Merrill King, to call in the karate leadership and investigate the reasons for the non-compliance.

The KSA was also asked to set up a coordinating committee with the view to it becoming a member of SASCOC, thereby ensuring that full contact karate gets a place within the national body.  

"SASCOC has at all times endeavoured as a macro sports body, to support the National Federations," read a SASCOC statement. 

"However, it is apparent and evident that the leadership of KSA has continued to mislead SASCOC by agreeing to implement certain joint decisions and thereafter failing to implement same and in fact reneging on such decisions."

SASCOC now intends to engage with South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula
SASCOC now intends to engage with South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula ©Getty Images

SASCOC now intends to engage with South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, in an attempt to ensure all athletes affiliated to the KSA "are not prejudiced and are able to develop their potential and a structure is put in place to facilitate same".

KSA was formed in June 2005 after the previous body, the Karate Association of South Africa, was disbanded by the then Sports Minister.

The new body came into being under the supervision of the South African Sports Council.

In May 2008, the interim structure was formalised at general elections held under the supervision of SASCOC.

This executive was placed under administration, however, due to "poor governance", "nepotism" and "failing in upholding their fiduciary duties" among many others charges.

In March 2012, a new executive was voted in under the Presidency of Mary-Ann Landers. 

Sonny Pillay is the current President with Landers serving as a vice-president.