Wayde van Niekerk’s coach suspended over sexual assault enquiry

Wayde van Niekerk's coach, Steven Swarts, has been suspended from his role as Athletics Free State president pending an enquiry.

Mar 9, 2025 - 18:00
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Wayde van Niekerk’s coach suspended over sexual assault enquiry

In a bombshell piece of news that came to light this weekend, it was confirmed that Wayde van Niekerk’s stepfather and coach, Steven Swarts, has been suspended by Athletics SA, pending a disciplinary enquiry – which is related to a previous sexual assault conviction.

Swarts, who was only recently appointed as the new coach of former Olympic gold medal star Wayde van Niekerk, had controversially risen to the position of Athletics Free State (AFS) president. This appointment was made despite the fact he was found guilty of sexual assault in 2018.

However, according to a statement released by Athletics SA on Saturday, Swarts has now been suspended pending a disciplinary enquiry over bringing the organisation into disrepute.

Wayde van Niekerk had begun working with Swarts upon relocating to Bloemfontein

The ASA statement read:

The ASA Board unanimously resolved at its meeting held on Thursday, 6 March 2025 to suspend Mr Steven Swarts, the President of Athletics Free State (AFS), with immediate effect, pending the convening of a disciplinary enquiry into his conduct that has brought ASA into disrepute.

It will be recalled that Mr Steven Swarts was convicted of a serious sexual assault on a female athlete a few years ago and was given a suspended sentence by the court. Despite such conviction, he was nevertheless elected to the position of President of Athletics Free State by the membership, who appeared to have been misled about the gravity of the offence and its outcome.

When members registered a vote of no confidence against Mr Swarts in line with the ASA Constitution, they were suspended, presumably to stifle their efforts to hold him accountable in terms of the AFS Constitution.

The ASA Board on the 21 and 22 February conferred with the AFS Board and its membership to take guidance from them on the matter, as there were factions that were still supporting Mr Swarts whilst others vehemently opposed him holding office.

Pursuant to the ASA Board deliberations, ASA was compelled to suspend Mr Swarts and subject him to a disciplinary enquiry, which notification was delivered to Mr Swarts and the membership of AFS this morning (8 March 2025). As a consequence, Mr Swarts has been relieved of all his duties and functions in the sport of athletics pending the conclusion of a disciplinary enquiry to be conducted by ASA’s Disciplinary Committee. The Vice President of AFS, Mr Leonard Jingose will act as President of AFS pending the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings against Mr Swarts or until elections are held to elect a new President.

ASA views the matter in a very serious light but is constrained to follow its disciplinary processes as stipulated in its Constitution. Whilst the delay in dealing decisively with the matter is regrettable, ASA was constrained to embark on a consultative process with the various factions amongst the membership of AFS before taking a decision on how best to deal with the matter.

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