Sebego quizzed over Mamelodi, electoral board
Mqondisi Dube | Wednesday June 22, 2016 14:50
Sebego, facing internal revolt over his leadership, was asked to provide the resolution which he used to suspend Mamelodi after the Industrial Court (IC) heard the BFA National Executive Committee (NEC) had met prior to the suspension.
Mamelodi’s lawyer, Dutch Leburu accused both Sebego and BPL acting chairperson, Rapula Okaile of lying under oath when the case resumed at the IC early this month.
“Remember the court asked Sebego to go and regularise regarding the resolution to suspend Mamelodi. He wanted to do so through the committee and cornered us. He said he had used a resolution passed in 2012 and we told him it was an old resolution which could not stand under the present committee,” said a NEC member who attended what has been described as a fractious meeting.
Mamelodi has challenged his suspension as unlawful, with his lawyers arguing both Sebego and Okaile had no powers to suspend him. When the matter was heard at the IC earlier this month, Justice Molomo instructed the BPL and BFA to have regularised their affidavits for re-filing on July 8 this year. This means the BPL board, has to seek authority from the BFA NEC if it still wants to take action against Mamelodi.
Sebego reportedly made attempts when the NEC met on Monday, to have his counterparts endorse the resolution used in suspending Mamelodi. The suspended CEO’s lawyers had sought minutes of the NEC meeting which resolved to suspend Mamelodi.
“We concluded that he has to bring the resolution which was used against Mamelodi,” said the NEC member.
The other contentious issue was that of the electoral board, expected to conduct next month’s elections.
“We have long called Sebego to convene an urgent meeting so that the electoral board is appointed but he delayed. Now (BFA chief executive officer, Kitso Kemoeng) ‘KK’ has opened nominations and our argument is that the process is flawed,” the official said.
The meeting resolved to seek FIFA’s intervention on the matter of the electoral board.
Sebego said the Mamelodi matter has been deferred to next week. He said he is of the view that Mamelodi’s suspension should be lifted.
“As the president, I still hold the view that Mamelodi should return to work and that the interest of BPL will be served better if he is in office. We could not appoint the electoral board yesterday. We have written to FIFA to seek guidance. It is clear that some members are reluctant to go to the ballot. We will await FIFA’s guidance on this issue,” Sebego said. Kemoeng said the nominations were received by June 15 as per the constitution and a report made to the NEC. “They are entitled to their views. The agenda is clear, to eject me and the president,” Kemoeng said.