Olympic swimmer Tatjana Smith has issued Swimming South Africa (SSA) with a letter of demand. She’s seeking payment of interest she alleges the federation retained on prize money held for more than a year.
The demand follows the provisional suspension of SSA’s president and chief executive officer earlier this week. This adds to scrutiny of the federation. Smith, a two-time Olympic champion, has accused SSA of withholding her prize money. She also alleges SSA kept the interest that accrued before she eventually received the payment.
Interest Allegedly Withheld From 2023 Winnings
In a letter of demand dated August 25, sent by Hurter Spies Attorneys on behalf of Smith and her husband Joel, the couple allege SSA retained interest accrued on $35,000 (roughly R560,000 at the time) in prize money Smith won at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
Attorney Spies told Daily Maverick that Hurter Spies Attorneys sent an initial letter of demand to SSA on May 31, 2025, over the withheld prize money. SSA never responded, according to Spies. The firm considered further legal action but held off while Smith prepared to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Smith won silver in the 200m breaststroke at the Paris Olympics on August 1, 2024. According to Spies, SSA official Mafata Modutoane approached Joel Smith after the post-race press conference and showed him proof of payment for the prize money.
“I Kept the Interest as a Management Fee”
While SSA had paid the prize money, Joel Smith noticed it excluded any interest accrued while the funds were held. According to the letter of demand, when asked why the interest hadn’t been paid, Modutoane replied: “I kept the interest as a management fee.”
“At the time our clients were not sure whether Mr Mafata Modutoane was making a joke or whether he in fact kept the interest due to our client as a self-allocated personal bonus,” the attorneys’ letter states.
SSA Leadership Under Separate Investigation
SSA president Alan Fritz and chief executive Shaun Adriaanse were suspended this week over potential violations of the World Aquatics Integrity Code, including abuse of power and the submission of false information and documents. The Aquatics Integrity Unit, the independent disciplinary arm of World Aquatics, is investigating both officials.
Fritz and Adriaanse remain innocent until proven guilty, and the outcome of that investigation is still pending. Vice-President Zikie Molusi now leads the remaining SSA leadership.
Smith previously made history as the first South African woman to win gold at a World Swimming Championship, taking the 200m breaststroke title in Fukuoka on July 28, 2023, in a time of 2:20.80. She also won 100m breaststroke gold and 200m breaststroke silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
