Tributes pour in for slain Sascoc chief
South African Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has hailed the contribution of well-known sports administrator Banele Sindani who was shot and killed during a robbery at his Johannesburg home.
Mbalula said:” “Banele Sindani has served on various sport bodies working tirelessly to fulfil our dream of a united, transformed and equitable sport that creates opportunities for our people.
“From serving as the first CEO of a newly formed SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC ) to serving at Athletics South Africa (ASA), Mr Sindani made his contribution to the development of sport. His passing was sudden and shocking to all of us; we trust and hope the relevant authorities will find and bring to justice those who stole him from us.
“I have sent condolences to his family. May they find solace in knowing they are not alone during this time, his friends and colleagues and the entire sporting fraternity mourns with the Sindani family,” Mbalula said.
Sascoc chief executive, Tubby Reddy, said: “We mourn the sudden loss of our former colleague Banele, who as the first CEO of Sascoc, set an example of good sports administration.
“As the country’s macro sports movement, we are deeply saddened by the loss of such an influential sports administrator who contributed immensely to South African sport for more than two decades.”
Sindani was shot and killed in what was suspected to be an armed robbery at his house in Ruimsig, Roodepoort, in the early hours of Tuesday morning. He is survived by his wife and six children.
Honeydew police spokesperson Karen Jacobs confirmed the shooting to the local Roodepoort Northsider newspaper on Tuesday. “The police are still investigating the scene and we cannot give out information at this moment,” Jacobs said.
The 60-year-old Sindani was the former chief executive officer of Sascoc, as well as the former CEO of ASA. In recent times, Sindani remained involved in athletics and was part of the Soweto Marathon Trust.
SASCOC took to Twitter on Tuesday to confirm Sindani’s death and express their condolences. “SASCOC is very saddened and shocked at the sudden death of former CEO of SASCOC and ASA, Banele Sindani. May his soul rest in peace,” the organisation said on its @Team_SA_2015 account.
Former sports administrator Linda Ferns, who worked alongside Sindani as the general manager at Athletics South Africa, also conveyed her shock at Sindani’s sudden death.
“Waking up to the horrific news this morning with the news of Banele Shot dead last night!” Ferns said on Twitter on Tuesday morning.
Sindani’s nephew Phelelani has been reported as saying that the robbers had stolen a TV and cell phone after Sindani had been shot.
ANA
File photo: Gallo Images