BFA's controversial motion returns
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday December 13, 2019 12:29
The motion, which calls for the extension of terms for regional leaders from two to four years, will be tabled at another special meeting. BFA chief executive officer, Mfolo Mfolo confirmed the meeting yesterday saying indeed the motion that was deferred in September would be an agenda item.
At the end of the last meeting, BFA president, Maclean Letshwiti asked the general assembly to allow him to defer the matter so that he could go and consult.
He said there had to be a balance between the business side of the decision as well as the legal aspect. This followed a heated exchange between those in support of the motion and those against.
While the initial resolution on the extension of the term was to take effect from 2020 after the BFA constitution had been amended, the current motion calls for the resolution to be implemented retrospectively with effect from the 2018 structural assemblies.
It also allows the current regional leaders to hold office until 2022. Those in support of the motion argued that the changes would allow the regional committees time to plan, implement and evaluate projects especially those coming from FIFA.
They also pointed out that the BFA is currently running important projects like the four-year technical plan which runs up to 2022 as well as the Operation Time for change capacity building project. They said the current regional structures are intimately involved in the programmes that cost the association an average of P2 million per year. They further argued that by retaining the current office bearers of these structures, there would be a return on investment. However, those who opposed the motion felt that the regional office bearers wanted to extend their term without the knowledge and approval of those who voted them into office in 2018.
Amongst those in opposition of the motion are Notwane president, Tebogo Sebego as well as Police XI chairperson, Solomon Mantswe. In the last discussion, Sebego warned that it would be unconstitutional for the general assembly to pass on the motion extending the terms of regional leaders when the said leaders were elected in by the clubs in their regions.
He said the regional leaders must first seek mandate from their regions. Mfolo said all the possible legal implications have been satisfied and that the motion will be debated after which a vote will be conducted tomorrow. Meanwhile, there have been fears amongst those who oppose the motion that the regional leaders were afraid of being voted out at their respective regions next year.
That will in turn have a bearing on the outcome of the elections for the national executive committee (NEC). Before his suspension from NEC, BFA first vice president, Segolame Ramotlhwa is said to have stood firm and opposed the motion saying it was unconstitutional. His views were that those currently holding positions at various structures were voted into those positions by their respective constituents.
It was on the understanding that they were going to serve for two years adding that those who want to continue beyond that period or under the proposed new term of office must constitutionally go back to their respective structures to seek fresh mandates.