New BNSC board in quiet transition
Mqondisi Dube | Monday July 13, 2026 06:00
The change comes against the backdrop of disagreements between the former board and the Commission's leadership, culminating in concerns that were reportedly raised with the Minister of Sport and Arts, Jacob Kelebeng.
Amongst the issues raised was the appointment of BNSC chief executive officer, Olebile Sikwane.
Kelebeng has indicated that he is not avoiding meeting up with the former board as claimed.
In the meantime, Sikwane appeared to address the broader debate during his remarks at the recent National Sport Summit, where he called for a new approach to sports leadership in Botswana.
In what many viewed as a pointed message to long-serving sports administrators, Sikwane said sport needed leaders who were prepared to embrace change rather than resist it.
'We must develop not only athletes but also a whole generation of educated, agile administrators who aren't entitled, sentimental and expectant of personal returns from sport,' he told delegates.
He added that leaders who had been at the helm of sport for between 10 and 20 years 'need to reconsider, reflect and embrace that change is inevitable, for new emerging faces with new ideas and ability.'
Sikwane also appealed to the private sector to maintain confidence in Botswana's sporting landscape, urging the business community to continue investing in sport despite the challenges facing the sector.
At the same time, he challenged sports administrators to be honest about their contribution to sport and to recognise when it was time to make way for a new generation of leadership.
The comments were widely interpreted as a response to criticism that has surrounded his tenure and the disputes that emerged with the outgoing board.
The incoming board, led by Goitseone 'GG' Gadifele, now inherits an organisation at a critical stage. The board is expected to restore confidence and establish a constructive working relationship with the management following a period characterised by public exchanges.
For now, the transition has been notably subdued. Whether that silence signals a fresh start or merely a pause in the tensions that have defined recent months will become clearer as the new board settles into office.