BNSC affiliates fail to submit returns

Calistus Kolantsho | Friday March 6, 2015 12:32

Filling returns: BNSC affiliates, including the Botswana Football Association, are expected to file annual returns to the Registrar of Societies. PIC: KABO MPAETONA

As a result, the BNSC has urged affiliates to comply and submit this year’s returns before the March 31 deadline.

According to a circular from BNSC, only nine affiliates have complied, while 27 have been violating.

The Botswana Bowling Association, Botswana Cricket Association, Botswana Cycling Association, Botswana Dance Sport Association, Botswana Judo Federation, Botswana Racquet Squash Federation, Botswana Tennis Association, Botswana Wrestling Federation and Botswana Integrated Sports Association are the only ones that have complied.

Some of the affiliates that have failed to submit their returns are Botswana Football Association (BFA), Botswana Chess Federation, Botswana Swimming Sport Association, Botswana Weightlifting Association and Botswana Primary Schools Sports Association.

BNSC acting chief executive officer, Thato Kgosimore told Mmegi Sport yesterday that the council is worried about the attitude of some affiliates towards submitting annual returns. Kgosimore said affiliates have not been submitting returns for some time now.

He said BNSC has encouraged affiliates to submit their returns by next week. He explained the process is part of the requirements needed by the Register of Societies.

“We sent out reminders to all the affiliates and we hope by next week they will be done with the returns. It is not like they are failing to submit returns intentionally. It must be an oversight on their part,” said Kgosimore.

He said they expect affiliates to normalise the situation quickly and have been given a week to submit.

Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) chairperson, David Mathe said they are in the process of submitting their returns.

He said they have informed the BNSC the cause of the delay as they were still to locate members of the previous committee to sign the necessary forms to enable them to comply.

“We just need their signatures as confirmation that they were in the office last year. Failure to submit will not affect our operations, but there is a penalty for submitting late.

“There are other affiliates that have failed to submit returns in years, but they are operating,” he said.

Mathe pointed out that BNSC cannot stop funding them because they have not submitted returns.

Botswana Wrestling Federation (BWF) president, Moagi Sharp said they submit returns every year, but BNSC has refused to release their grant. He said affiliates who fail to comply are always funded.

He revealed that last year, they were awarded a P200, 000 grant, but only spent P16, 000. Sharp said BWF failed to have an annual general meeting because BNSC refused to release funds.

He felt that BNSC secretariat was out to sabotage wrestling. He argued that the council must appreciate new codes because they are meant to develop sport in the country.BFA president, Tebogo Sebego said they have complied and submitted the returns last week.

“Maybe it is their internal systems. We have proof that we submitted,” Sebego said. Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) treasurer, Gofaone Baleseng said they have engaged an independent accountant to handle the process. They availed their minutes and financial statements to the accountant. “We expect to submit next week,” he said.