The Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) said the axing of Ann Ashworth from her role as the Comrades Marathon Race and Operations Manager with immediate effect has nothing to do with the so-called‘Vanillagate’ saga.
As a result the CMA has appointed Alain Dalais, the current Procurement and Site Logistics Officer, as the Acting Race and Operations Manager until the position is filled on a permanent basis.
Alain Delais Photo: CMA
Ashworth was in the position as head of operations and logistics for the 97th edition of the race for seven months after the previous race director Rowyn James was shown the door after last year’s race.
The 2018 Comrades Marathon winner posted on social media on Wednesday evening that she had been sacked. Ashworth was also allegedly accused by CMA board member Zinhle Sokhela – in a message posted on a WhatsApp group – of trying to create a whites-only executive by signing up more voting members.
Zinhle Zokhela Photo: CMA
Sokhela’s whose screenshots of messages were shared on social media with the sender’s identity hidden, read: “Guys, you can recruit as many members as possible. Our new GM has recruited as many vanilla people as possible, and as it stands we have close to 400 new members (all vanilla) who have joined and want to attend (the)AGM in November to take back the CMA board to be whites-only.”
During Ashworth’s term the race paid out record prize money to winning athletes and was also praised for altering cut-off times. But there were also criticisms, from traffic congestion getting to the finish line in Pietermaritzburg to the shortage of goody bags at registration.
“My time at the CMA has come to an end,” wrote Ashworth.
“The board feels that I lack the necessary leadership and race management abilities to continue to serve.”
“Given recent events this decision has not come as a surprise. For weeks now there have been rumblings among the naysayers that ‘the board would be dealing with me’.
“The board will tell you that I did not accept their offer to extend my contract before their subsequent decision to revoke the offer. They will also say that I have previously indicated that I did not wish to remain in my position beyond June 30.”
Ashworth wrote that she offered to resign on “at least three occasions”, but her offers were not accepted.
Ann Ashworth Photo: Instagram
“I was hesitant to stay on at the CMA given what was happening in the office and behind closed doors and I was convinced to sign my offer of extension after discussing matters with my staff and tier-one sponsors who wished me to remain in my position.”
CMA Chairperson, Mqondisi Ngcobo responded in a statement on Thursday by saying that the CMA had entered into an interim contractual agreement with Ashworth that expires on 30 June 2024.
“The so-called ‘Vanillagate’ saga has no bearing on her departure,” he said.
Mqondisi Ngcobo Photo: CMA
“The CMA appreciates Ashworth’s contributions to The Ultimate Human Race and wishes her well in her future endeavours. The search for a new Comrades Marathon Race & Operations Manager will begin promptly.
“On the matter of the CMA Board member that has attracted public interest and following our media statement last week in which we had indicated that we had asked the Board member to reflect on the ‘implications of her message personally, professionally, and as a member of the CMA Board’, the CMA Board met on Tuesday, 25 June 2024 to deliberate on it.
“The Constitution of the CMA does not empower the Board to remove a Board member.
“However, due to the seriousness of the matter, and in terms of clause 13.2.1 read with clause 20 of the CMA Constitution, and in the best interests of the CMA, the Board has resolved to convene a special General Meeting to get a mandate from members on this matter within 30 days of this resolution.
Ngcobo adds, “The CMA wishes to reiterate its commitment to serving the best interests of all runners and to ensuring that there is no place for any form of discrimination within the race itself, its organisation or amongst its members”.
