BOKA suspends affiliate as fights escalate
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday September 24, 2022 06:00
ISKF had called for an urgent meeting to push the BOKA to discuss pressing issues, which include the financial report. The federation had written a letter calling for a Special General Meeting (SGM) tomorrow but BOKA instructed ISKF to call off the meeting as it was unconstitutional.
But ISKF was defiant and BOKA secretary-general, Karabo Samuel slapped their affiliate with a suspension letter yesterday. “Following your unilateral call for the SGM, BOKA wrote to you explaining how unconstitutional your act is and instructed you to withdraw the invitations. In full light of your unconstitutional act, you responded by stating that the meeting will continue as planned. Your act does not only undermine authority but brings BOKA and karate into disrepute, contrary to BOKA code of conduct,” Samuel said through the letter.
He said the Federation is aware of the scheduled BOKA league tournament in Jwaneng and they are acting in a manner that sabotages the event. Samuel said the suspension is with immediate effect, and ISKF will remain suspended pending investigations and disciplinary proceedings with a possible institution of an expulsion penalty. BOKA has set November 5 as the date for an elective Ordinary General Meeting (OGM), which will see the contest for the presidency after Tshepho Bathai tendered his resignation in June. Bathai, however, remains in office and will only step down in October.
ISKF chairperson Eileen Alberts told Mmegi Sport that the suspension does not change anything as the meeting will go ahead. “We will still go on. We will be there and nobody is going to stop us,” Alberts said. The tension between affiliates and BOKA leadership has been escalating since the last Annual General Meeting (AGM) where the financial report was not presented. ISKF invited affiliates to an SGM and mentioned in the letter that the karate affairs have not been going well of late. “We seem to have lost touch with a lot of developments. Two issues of concern have increased complaints about the selection of athletes into the national team and the financial statements that have been promised but were never brought to the members,” reads the letter.
The letter did not go well with the BOKA executive. “Your chief instructor serves in the BOKA structures and is well informed of the proper way of addressing issues, you chose a chaotic way of expressing your concerns that seeks to rope in BOKA membership,” Samuel said in his response. He said ISKF is aware of their leadership jurisdiction, they infiltrate into and coerce the BOKA membership to be disruptive and use an image-damaging approach to deal with issues.
The letter stated that an SGM could only be called by either the executive committee or on request by the general membership. “Both such entities, however, meet the two-thirds majority quorum as prescribed for any meeting recognised by the BOKA constitution. All meetings recognised by the BOKA constitution are presided over by the sitting president,” the letter reads.
Samuel said since the meeting is unconstitutional, any resolutions taken are of no effect. ISKF was instructed to issue communication that withdraws the invitation of the SGM. “You are advised to seek proper guidance on how to address your concerns amicably. Take note that your conduct is of gross reputational damage to the image of karate and may lead to possible disciplinary action,” the letter further reads.
Meanwhile, speculation is rife that BOKA treasurer Kutlwano Mukokomani has resigned. BOKA outgoing president Bathai said the reports were false. “I am currently serving notice and my last day in office is October 5. Mukokomani is still part of the executive committee. Regarding the financial report, they are being addressed by an accountant and being audited by BOKA auditors,” he said.