After Richard Fourie and Oswald Noach joined their colleague JP van der Merwe this week and signed respective individual admissions of guilt for charges in respect of their participation in a protest that led to the abandonment of the Hollywoodbets Durbanville racemeeting on 26 March, a further six riders have stepped up, according to the latest NHA calendar.
Cape jockeys – for illustration only (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Following the action of 26 March, the jockeys present at the protest in support of an interim suspension placed on Grant van Niekerk were charged with a contravention of Rule 72.1.27 in that they, as riders who were carded to participate in scheduled races, and without any lawful justification, were party to a protest action which resulted in the abandonment of the race meeting.
In late April, JP van der Merwe was the first of the group to sign an AOG.
On Tuesday 13 May Fourie and Noach signed their Admission of Guilt and thus received a monetary fine of R100 000 each. R50 000 of the total was suspended for a period of five years on condition that they are individually not found guilty of contravening Rule 72.1.27, for the next five years.
In the NHA Calendar published on Friday 16 May, all of Ashton Arries, Devin Ashby, Craig Bantam, Mpume Mjoka, Keanan Steyn and Gareth Wright have now signed AOG’s.
The remainder of the riders charged will likely face an Inquiry which we believe has been set down for Monday 19 May.
For his post-race utterances that led to the protest, Grant van Niekerk was given a 90-day suspension from race riding, of which 60 days were suspended for three years, subject to the following conditions:
1.1 Public Apology: Jockey van Niekerk was to have issued a public apology to the NHA via the media within ten days of this ruling. This has not happened.
1.2 Jockey van Niekerk must not be convicted of Rule 72.1.26 during the three-year suspension period.
1.3 The nine days suspension already served will be taken into account in determining the dates of the remainder of the 30 days’ suspension. Accordingly, the 30-day suspension could have been served from 27 March 2025 to 26 April 2025, subject to his right of appeal.
Fine:
2.1 A fine of R100,000, of which R75,000 is suspended for three years, on condition that Jockey van Niekerk is not convicted of another Rule 72.1.26 violation during this period.
Van Niekerk was given the Right of Appeal against both the finding and the penalty imposed. We understand that he may be appealing.
