Transport blues for sport codes
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday November 13, 2021 06:00
According to a circular from the BNSC, the Department of Roads and Transport has deemed the commission's 13-seater minibus unroadworthy and therefore unsafe to use.
“Consequently, the vehicle is no longer available for use by all, commission staff, NSAs and stakeholders. On a slightly different but related matter, the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development (MYSC) has advised of their inability to provide transport to NSAs,” the letter reads in part.
The statement further stipulates that NSAs are advised to budget accordingly so that they may be able to procure transport services from private providers until advised otherwise.
BNSC chief executive officer (CEO), Tuelo Serufho told Mmegi Sport that if they repair the minibus it will be costly.
“In other words, we have boarded it. We have been assisting NSAs with transport from MYSC but they have informed us that they now have challenges. We are encouraging NSAs to make their own plans for transport,” he said.
He explained that they are about to auction their old fleet but given their status, they are unlikely to get enough for any major procurement. Serufho said the development will affect sport bodies. He said it will be irresponsible for the BNSC to avail an unroadworthy vehicle.
Serufho said they will only be able to assist NSAs with transport once the BNSC purchases its own bus.
“We understand their challenges, where possible we will assist. For example, we have agreed with the Botswana Football League (BFL) that when there are no spectators we would not charge for stadium use. They will only pay for the floodlights and cleaning the stadium,” he said.
Serufho said now that spectators are allowed at stadiums, they have agreed on lower fees than what was initially agreed on in the contract. He said they want the clubs to recover first. He said for sport development, BNSC is not charging to make a profit but to refurbish facilities. He said they only charge minimal fees that cover cleaning.
Serufho said NSAs pay to camp at the Athletes Village.
“We have refurbished the facility to hotel standards. If we were to be graded, we would be a three-star hotel. We have two fee structures, one for NSAs, which are lower, and for individuals, which are higher. We are cheaper than all accommodation facilities,” he said.