Race for BNSC top job reaches last lap
Mqondisi Dube | Thursday March 5, 2015 17:50
The commission would take over from the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC), which would cease to exist once the new body becomes operational, expected to be April.
Five names had made it to the last lap of recruitment with prominent names of Falcon Sedimo and Kitso Kemoeng still in the race.
Acting Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) CEO, Thato Kgosimore was also in contention.
The BNSC board met recently to approve the name of the new candidate before it is forwarded to the minister and then cabinet for final recommendation.
“We have concluded the process as the board. We are united on what has been recommended and our principals (the Ministry of Sports) have been very cooperative,” BNSC chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng said.
An independent firm was engaged to recruit the new person.
The new Commission, which replaces the BNSC and has seen the Department of the Sports and Recreation (DSR) phased out, is expected to come into operation in April. The DSR director, Sedimo was co-opted into the BNSC board at the last general meeting in July 2014. The Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) will have representation in the Commission through its CEO, Tuelo Serufho and president, Negroes Kgosietsile.With the new Sports Act kicking in, in April, the Commission is expected to be operational next month.
“Our wish is that the new CEO also starts work in April,” Reikeletseng said.
The new body might see an increase in the staff compliment compared to what the BNSC currently has. The Commission came about largely due to turf wars involving the three sports bodies, the BNSC, the DSR and the BNOC.
There was a clash of roles in the old set-up leading to squabbling over territory.
In the new set-up, decentralisation would be more defined with a Registrar of Affiliates to oversee the operations of the Commission’s affiliates. The Registrar will deal with specific affiliate issues. The Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng is expected to announce a new board and chairperson for the Commission.