Parly makes first move on AFCON bid probe

Mqondisi Dube | Monday March 10, 2025 16:02

After deliberations, the National Assembly voted in favour of a motion brought before the House by Molepolole North Member of Parliament, Arafat Khan, to investigate the process, which cost the country in excess of P65 million. Sources told MmegiSport that the Speaker of Parliament, Dithapelo Keorapetse, has instructed the House, through the relevant structures, to set up a Special Select Committee. 'There is already movement as the Speaker has instructed the Clerk and Parliamentary Committee to set up structures for the Special Select Committee,' the source said.

Details on how much the investigation will cost or the structure that it will take have not been made public. But it is expected that several witnesses will take the stand. The investigation is expected to focus on the activities of the bid committee, which was led by former FIFA development officer, Ashford Mamelodi, Ruben Reddy of Ruben Reddy Architects, who was tasked with compiling the bid book at a cost of P61 million, former Sport minister, Tumiso Rakgare, who was instrumental in pushing the bid process, as well as the Botswana National Sport Commission, which was the project's designated procurement entity. The probe becomes the new administration's first major audit on past public spending under the previous government. President Duma Boko's government has indicated it will carry out a forensic audit amidst concerns over the poor state of the public purse inherited from the former administration. No timelines have been given for the bid investigation, with eyes on Parliament regarding the next move.