Nearly three months after the African Youth Chess Championship in Harare, South African parents continue seeking transparency and refunds from Chess South Africa due to accommodation chaos. The Zimbabwe Chess Federation has disputed Chess SA's account of payment delays. Ongoing governance concerns persist amid recent executive elections.
The African Youth Chess Championship took place in Harare, Zimbabwe, from 6 to 14 December 2025. South African junior players and parents faced significant disruptions when accommodation payments were not made on time, forcing some to sleep on couches or floors and move between hotels on the competition's eve.
On 12 December 2025, Chess SA president Andre Lewaks met with parents in Harare and requested written submissions of their concerns. Pieter Krüger, representing the parents, sent a formal submission on 7 January 2026, detailing issues like poor communication, lack of transparency, and governance problems. The submission included feedback reports and requested a response by 31 January for constructive progress. It highlighted “prolonged periods of confusion, contradictory instructions, and no single authoritative source of truth during a rapidly escalating crisis,” according to Krüger. The document was forwarded to the Chess SA Executive Board on 15 January.
Vice-president Vicky Magu, who managed the team, denied communication failures, stating he responded to messages and informed parents when information was unavailable. Lewaks confirmed receipt of the concerns, noting they are part of ongoing governance processes after the executive board election on 21 February 2026. Lewaks was re-elected president, and Shaun Levitan replaced Magu as vice-president. Chess SA conducted an internal review and engaged the Zimbabwe Chess Federation (ZCF) and African Chess Confederation to clarify accommodation issues. The federation has strengthened its travel framework, including payment verifications and a dedicated travel account. “We acknowledge that parents expected consistent and timely communication,” Lewaks said. “The newly elected executive board is committed to strengthening communication protocols.”
A report on the incident was submitted to the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc), but parents were not given oversight as promised. Refunds for undelivered accommodation, outlined in a 9 January letter with a 14-day timeframe, remain unpaid. An online meeting on 5 February focused on claim verification without clear timelines, per Krüger.
ZCF president Todd Mapingire disputed Chess SA's claims of a payment extension to 25 November 2025 and lack of an invoice. He confirmed an invoice was issued on 11 November, with a strict 15 November deadline per the tournament brochure. “We are sticking to the brochure ourselves. The brochure said the 15th and we never deviated for anyone,” Mapingire said. Accommodation preferences were assigned on a first-come basis, leading to limited spots at Cresta Lodge and a late offer for Cresta Jameson, which parents rejected due to safety and logistical concerns after 8pm.
