- Sascoc blamed "miscommunication" for shock news that Olympic medallists Tatjana Schoenmaker and Bianca Buitendag would not receive incentive bonuses.
- Barry Hendricks said at a post-Tokyo media debriefing on Friday the organisation would seek a more proactive approach to bonuses.
- Schoenmaker (gold and silver) and Buitendag (silver) accounted for South Africa's total tally in Tokyo.
Sascoc president Barry Hendricks blamed "miscommunication" for shock news that Team SA's Olympic medallists Tatjana Schoenmaker and Bianca Buitendag would not receive medal incentive bonuses.
A City Press report in which acting Sascoc CEO Ravi Govender was quoted as saying they "don't have luxuries such as incentives" sparked public outrage and spurred some into crowdfunding bonuses for SA's Tokyo medallists.
Sascoc later backtracked, with Hendricks saying earlier this week that bonuses would be paid. Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa also confirmed that his department would issue bonuses to Olympic and Paralympic medallists.
"We need to explain the miscommunication that occurred," said Hendricks. "The story going was that Sascoc does not support the athletes. The message that was supposed to come across was, Sascoc doesn't provide the funds.
"Sascoc has always gone out to its partners to seek those funds. Yes, the athletes will be receiving incentives for their performances.
"That should have been the clear message to come out, and we felt that we needed to correct that.
"That really riled South Africans up, that we weren't supporting our athletes in the manner that we should."
Schoenmaker (gold and silver) and Buitendag (silver) accounted for South Africa's total tally in Tokyo, seven shy of the 10 medal mark achieved in Rio five years ago.
In 2016, Sascoc paid gold medallists R500 000 in incentive bonuses, R250 000 for silver, and R100 000 for bronze medallists, including a portion for their coaches.
Speaking at a post-Tokyo media debriefing on Friday, Hendricks said the organisation would seek to have a more proactive approach to bonuses and mooted a fund pool for Games and Paralympics.
"We have to look for a more positive approach in terms of Sascoc simply relying on outside partners to provide this funding," said Hendricks.
"We've got to set up our own trust, our own kitty, so that when it comes to the Olympics, Paralympics and All Africa Games, we can say this is our budget and this is how much we are going to give our athletes.
"That's where Sascoc is heading, to become more independent. Yes, we will welcome sponsors coming in, as has been shown with various companies coming in and giving incentives to our athletes.
"We must also consider that these bonuses must cover the Paralympics as well, not just the two current Olympic medallists.
"We need to consolidate incentives funding under one umbrella and use that solely for the purpose of athletes' incentives.
"We want to thank the minister for committing to providing incentives, not only for the Olympics
but the Paralympic athletes and their coaches as well.
"We haven't received any specifics from the minister [as to how much each athlete will receive]."