Steven Swarts was convicted of raping one of his female athletes while giving her a “deep tissue massage”. The incident occurred in 2018 and the female athlete was 21 at the time.
At his trial Swarts pled guilty to rape and sexual assault. He signed his conviction papers on 5 March 2020 but was able to escape jail time with the Bloemfontein Court sentencing him, “In terms of section 276 (1) (b) of act 51 of 1977 as amended, the accused is sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, which imprisonment is suspended for a period of 5 years on condition that the accused is not during the time of suspension convicted of contravention of section 3 of the Criminal Law Amendment act 32 of 2007 (sexual offences and related matters).”
The judge also ordered that Swarts be included on the National Register of Sex Offenders. Swarts hid the conviction and claimed he was “the victim of an extortion scheme”. Despite still serving an active sentence for rape, Swarts managed to get himself elected as President of Athletics Free State (AFS). This completely violates World Athletics rules on multiple counts.
When his conviction was uncovered in the middle of 2024, a group of AFS athletes voiced their concerns about having a rapist as President. The group raised a motion of no confidence in Swarts’ leadership and notified ASA. However, it was the whistleblowers who were suspended and then banned for two years from all athletics activities on trumped up charges of “Bringing the organization into disrepute” by the federation. This decision to ban the whistleblowers was fully supported by ASA and there no repercussions, sanctions or even a cursory caution for Swarts.
It is still bewildering that their objections to having a rapist, still actively serving his sentence, in the constant presence and proximity of vulnerable female athletes were ignored by the AFS board and Athletics South Africa (ASA). Swarts appeared to be protected by his friends within ASA and several members of the AFS board including his wife, Odessa, who was then serving on the AFS executive as Track and Field Chairperson.
I wrote two articles on the topic Convicted Rapist Runs Athletics Free State (ASA backs rapist; Athletes suspended for raising concerns) and ASA Happy to let Rapist Run Loose Amongst Vulnerable Young Athletes (Normalising Rape Culture in South Africa) which helped to get the issue some media attention. Despite this being a blatant violation of international World Athletics safeguarding regulations and protocols, ASA initially sided with the rapist but, after media pressure, eventually suspended Swarts under duress on 8 March 2025. If any additional action has been taken against Swarts by ASA since then it has not been publicised.
At the time, ASA confirmed to the City Press that Swarts was “prohibited from coaching athletes.” Swarts is Wayde van Niekerk’s stepfather and was van Niekerk’s coach at the time (Odessa Swarts is Wayde van Niekerk’s biological mother).
Immediately after Swarts’ March 2025 suspension, News24 reported that, “Given how long this issue has apparently been brewing in athletics circles, ASA felt compelled to explain why it has taken so long for them to act decisively.”
ASA were then quoted as explaining, “ASA views the matter in a very serious light, but it is constrained to follow its disciplinary process 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 factions amongst the membership of AFS before taking a decision on how best to deal with the matter.”
In what appears to be blatant double standards, the whistle-blower athletes who objected to having a rapist President and raised a vote of no confidence in Swarts’ leadership were immediately banned for two years but almost 500 days after his suspension, Steven Swarts is still roaming free like an apex predator in a farmyard. No doubt ASA are still ‘regretting the delay’.
To restate the basic fact of this matter, there are no allegations here, Steven Swarts pled guilty and was convicted of rape. This is not a 500 day problem to solve.
Unfortunately, like pretty much everything else ASA does – regardless of leadership changes – a slap on the wrist seems to be the extent of the repercussions for the well-connected criminal network within South African athletics.
Swarts’ wife Odessa recently assumed acting Presidency of AFS. It is understood from sources within the province that Steven Swarts is still actively involved in the federation and continues to operate with impunity.
Swarts’ victim, Marcia van Niekerk (no relation to Wayde), was quoted in Rapport about the impact of the incident, “I never practiced athletics again after it happened. I sold my spikes, sold my blocks, got rid of everything. To this day, I don’t even exercise or gym anymore. I don’t do sports at all anymore. I just can’t bring myself to do it.”
A recent statement from ASA on a number of issues included the throwaway paragraph that, “The AGM was also informed that the matter involving Steven Swarts, the suspended President of Athletics Free State (AFS), arising from a safeguarding-related issue, will be addressed by ASA Acting President John Mathane on 11 July 2026, subject to confirmation of the date by Athletics Free State.”
Don’t hold your breath. When your wife is the key decision maker and the Swarts family oligarchy are pulling all the strings, what chance is there for accountability? Cyril Ramaphosa must be ruing a missed trick for failing to get his wife to chair the Phala Phala impeachment hearings.
In the meantime, you can get your personal, hands-on coaching session from Steven Swarts for just R700 – fully endorsed by Athletics Free State. ASA have raised no objections to the rapist Swarts facilitating the training so one would assume it is endorsed by them as well. And we wonder why there are not more women involved in sports.
Athletics Free State, acting ASA President John Mathane and all six members of ASA’s Safeguarding subcommittee were asked for comment but none had responded at the time of publication. The contact details of all ASA officials can be found at this page should you wish to voice your concerns, disapproval and disgust at this situation: https://athleticssa.org.za/ContactUs
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