Karate wars rage on
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday November 5, 2022 06:00
The deposed committee, which was led by former president Tshepho Bathai, is still defiant.
The war started when an interim committee was appointed in the absence of the then office bearers led by Bathai, who has since stepped down.
A motion of no confidence was passed against the incumbent committee and the interim one suspended Bathai and his secretary-general, Karabo Samuel accusing them of various offences.
This week, Samuel wrote a letter to affiliates, hombu dojos (headquarters dojos), and chief instructors inviting them to an Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) scheduled for tomorrow at Lekidi Football Centre. “You are reminded that the BOKA president has served notice and has since stepped down following his announcement during the last AGM (Annual General Meeting).
The OGM shall therefore elect the new BOKA president,” the letter reads. The announcement for an OGM was not well received by affiliates as they felt Samuel was out of line because his committee has been removed from office and the official is suspended from karate activities.
The affiliates wrote a letter to the interim president, Mpho Bakwadi instructing him to cancel the OGM.
“We, the three-third majority of BOKA general membership in good standing, do instruct your office to call off the OGM with immediate effect on the following basis, the OGM is called by former BOKA executive committee on behalf of the current BOKA interim committee and the author of the OGM invitation letters is suspended from all BOKA activities on allegations of corruption, gross misconduct and insubordination,” the letter reads.
The members argued through the letter that they believe that the resolutions from the last Special General Meeting, which was held in September, are legally binding and can only be revoked by a court of law.
The letter has been signed by Ryushin Kan (Thato Chilume), Ryushin Kan hombu dojo (Keorapetse Dube), Shitoryu (Leano Kotlhao), Shitoryu hombu dojo (Union Kgafela), JKA Botswana (Lere Basupang), JKA Botswana hombu dojo (Utlwang Toko), Shotokan (Eileen Roberts), Shotokan hombu dojo (Alberts The Rising Stars Academy), Hayashi Ha (Ofentse Bakwadi), Hayashi Ha hombu dojo (Bakwadi Karate Academy), and Kofukan (George Tshikare.) For his part, BOKA interim president Bakwadi told Mmegi Sport that what is happening is frustrating because they are trying to fix and stabilise things, adding that the situation will tarnish the image of karate.
“To me, it is an issue of indiscipline, especially Samuel because he is using the BOKA letterhead without authority. This is killing our sport but it will be dealt with. Karate is a disciplined sport and we will not condone such behaviour,” he said.