Elections 2024

Saturday, 14th September 2024
Letter from Charles du Sautoy to the Eventing Community:

Dear eventers, friends, and everyone who holds Eventing dear,

In an election marred by errors and controversy, I was elected president of The Eventing Association of South Africa at its the AGM tonight, 14th September 2023.

I appreciate the messages of congratulation that I have received but must admit that the result was a surprise, and in the circumstances, I do not see the result a cause for celebration.

My message to the members of council when the result was announced was that I am dismayed at how the outcome came to pass, and the fact that numerous errors had an influence on the process and the outcome. The fact that these errors were errors that incurred within the administration of Eventing South Africa is a cause for concern, and we need, as a matter of priority, to get our house in order and make sure that they never happen again.

But right from the start, I committed, as president of Gauteng (on behalf of Gauteng Eventing), and as a candidate, to abide by the process being administered by the electoral officer under the auspices of the SAEF and respect the outcome, no matter how it turned out. I must stand by that undertaking, and I will do so with 100% commitment.

When the results were announced, my message to council was this. I did not expect to be in the position I find myself today, but finding myself here, I commit to doing everything in my power to support all the members of our Eventing Community, no matter who; our youth and our adults; our elite performers and our entry-level riders; our officials; our coaches; our organising committees and their events; our supporter; and everyone who is connected with our sport and contributes to making it the great adventure that it is.

But I cannot do so alone. It is only as a team that we can achieve the goals we set for ourselves, and it is only with the support of and collaboration between the members of council, the provincial councils, the officials, the coaches and the many, many other role-players, that our sport will thrive. So, my call today, to council and the community at large, is that we all stand together to make our great sport achieve its potential, grow, succeed and, importantly, be an environment where we can laugh, play and enjoy the camaraderie of collective achievement.

I know there will be those who will challenge today’s outcome. I am the first to acknowledge their right to do so, and, should they choose to, to pursue whatever legitimate channels available to them to do so. But I must insist that they do so respectfully, they do so without animosity, and while any such activity is playing out, to work collaboratively with me and the rest of council for the good of the sport. And, course, to commit to abide by the outcome, as do I.

With my warmest regards,
Charles du Sautoy