SA in touch with envoy over accommodation drama

Staff Writer | Friday December 7, 2018 13:02

The team has engaged its High Commissioner in Gaborone to assist if the matter was not resolved by yesterday. The games’ organising committee said athletes would only move into the Games Village, which is the University of Botswana (UB), tomorrow. UB students were only expected to vacate their rooms by yesterday (Thursday), meaning occupation was only possible today, a day after action began for some codes such as football and netball.  The official opening ceremony is at the National Stadium this afternoon, where President Mokgweetsi Masisi is expected to officiate.

South Africa was not overly impressed with the accommodation gaffe, with the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) releasing a statement over the incident.   “Our team is accommodated at the university, however some of the rooms set aside for Team SA were not ready, as the students had not yet vacated their rooms,” the SASCOC statement read. “The management team is doing its best to resolve this situation and helping the team to acclimatise to Botswana,” it added.

SASCOC added that its president, Gideon Sam was in touch with the South African High Commission in Botswana to try and intervene should the matter not be resolved by lunchtime on Thursday.

“We are working flat out to make sure the team receives the best care there is. Acting CEO Patience Shikwambana has been talking regularly with the Chef de Mission to help resolve the matter,” the SASCOC statement added.

South Africa is the defending champions after winning the 2016 edition held in Angola (Additional reporting News24).