Pall hangs over FRAFA elections

Lebogang Mosikare | Thursday June 7, 2018 11:52

The elections were supposed to take place on June 2 but were suspended after the current suspended secretary general of FRAFA, Isaac Mabuta, took the Botswana Football Association (BFA) and its second vice president Pelotshweu Motlogelwa to court over his suspension from all football activities in the region.

Mabuta’s suspension meant that he was automatically barred from taking part in the June 2 elections.

Mabuta was challenging the current FRAFA chairperson Maokaneng Bontshetse for the position of FRAFA chairperson.

He was suspended by the BFA for alleged misappropriation of FRAFA funds.

He said in his founding affidavit: “I aver that I stand to suffer prejudice if I am not granted the orders I seek and that the respondents would however not suffer any prejudice if they continue with their alleged investigation while I am still holding office. There is nothing or no proof whatsoever or anything to perhaps create any impression that I have any capacity to interfere with any intended investigations”.

“In any event, whether I am in the system or not, I would be legally be required to account (assuming the request is valid) so the respondents would suffer no prejudice by having me in the system. I further aver that I am readily available to assist with whatsoever investigations that may be made provided it is done in good faith and I am allowed an opportunity to duly revert,” said Mabuta. 

However after Justice Phadi Solomon postponed the urgent application last week for hearing on Thursday this week, the FRAFA circus continued after Solomon did not make an order to stop the elections from taking place on June 9.

While matter was heard in Solomon’s chambers, Mabuta’s attorney Mbiganyi Mhizha told a media scrum after returning from chambers that the judge has not made an order to stop the elections from taking place.

Notwithstanding, a disappointed Mhizha told journalists, football administrators and fans who came to listen to the case that Solomon made an order that Mhizha should file his papers on Monday next week while the respondents attorney should file their replying documents on Tuesday.

Mhizha said that according to the rescheduled order the matter would be then heard on June 14.

Mhizha explained that the cumulative effect of not making an order to postpone the elections and regional assembly would greatly prejudice his client because he would not be allowed to take part in either of the scheduled FRAFA events.

“Filing our papers on Monday would render that exercise academic and would not help my client in anyway whatsoever because the elections would have already taken place anyway on Saturday,” said Mhizha.

At the time of going to press, Bontshetse stood unopposed for the position of chairperson.

However, all is not lost for Mabuta after Mhizha intimated that he was in discussion with Mabuta to file another urgent application to stop FRAFA from holding the election and assembly before a different judge. 

Mabuta’s attorney vowed that he would not rest until his client gets the remedies he wants.