BSSA Affiliates Retain Committee
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday September 26, 2016 15:13
Ruth Van Der Merwe from Gators club retained her position as chairperson while Andrew Freeman of Phoenix club remained the vice chairperson.
Sibongile Ruele of BDF/Piranhas club was unopposed and retained her position as the secretary general. One Gorata Lesotlho of Piranhas/BDF club is the treasurer while Timothy Maje came in as an additional member. Sikhangezile Bekker of Phoenix beat Boitshwarelo Dzingai of GAC to the position of vice secretary general.
Speaking to Monitor Sport after the meeting, Van Der Merwe said the plan is to go back and deal with swimming business.
“The focus is to have as many competitions as possible. Being given another term in office is an indication that the affiliates have confidence in us. We appreciate that and I am happy with the way our meeting went,” she said.
Van Der Merwe said training is a priority for BSSA and the plan is to have more kids joining the sport. She said they are working with Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) on Long Term Athlete Development Plan, which is expected to develop swimming at grassroots level. She said the programme would see clubs being able to train children from disadvantaged sections of the community.
Addressing the affiliates, Van Der Merwe said they have been going through some challenges. She said the committee had to remain focused in order to keep the association running. “We faced a lot of accusations from some people and we did not let that derail us,” she said.
For her part, Ruele said there was need for the BSSA constitution to be amended. She said the last amendments that were made did not see the light of the day.
Another speaker, Bekker said the constitution that is being used has loopholes hence the need for amendments. “As an office we cannot amend it but it is your duty as affiliates to do that. Once we receive the amendments, we would forward them to the Registrar of Societies for approval,” said Bekker.
She pleaded with affiliates to protect BSSA when it is being attacked in the media. She said the affiliates have been silent in the past when such attacks took place.