BNSC accused of meddling in fencing elections
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday April 7, 2017 18:13
Former BAFF president, Gaolathe Modongo threatened to quit running for the election after claims BNSC observers interfered in the election. He told Mmegi Sport this week that the reason why he wanted to withdraw from the race was because of the way the BNSC handled the elections.
“At some point I nearly quit. I informed my campaign team about my decision and they were against the decision. I am not happy with the way the BNSC handled our elections. They turned our elections into a mockery. When we went for elections, we had a lobby list of people who had interest to contest for elections.
As a committee we vetted the candidates,” he said. Modongo said during the vetting process, they agreed that submissions of players will not be accepted. He said it was not possible for a player to be in the executive committee. He said it came as a surprise when the BNSC observers amended ballot papers to include the players. Modongo said despite advising them that what they were doing was wrong, he was overruled and the players were included in the list.
“That was when I told my team that the elections was a circus. Just imagine in football, Kabelo Dambe being the vice president to Maclean Letshwiti. Three players were candidates. One of our players being Koketso Masina, made it into the executive committee as an additional member,” he said.
Despite that, Modongo accepted the outcome of the elections saying the new president, Mandlenkosi Masuku was duly elected.
BNSC chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng said observes should not interfere in elections. He said their responsibility is to observe elections and come up with a report afterwards which should be submitted to the authorities. “It is unconstitutional if the BNSC observers interfere in elections of any National Sport Associations (NSAs),” he said.
Regarding the roping in of players into executive committees, Reikeletseng said that can only happen if the NSA does not have enough volunteers who want to get involved in the committee. He said it was not an ideal situation but there was nothing that could be done at the moment.
Meanwhile, Modongo said he knew the reasons why he lost the elections.
He said the affiliates wanted him to give them a share of the BNSC grant. “The BNSC grant is for administration and to organise tournaments. I informed them that the grant is not meant to run clubs. They also wanted me to give them scoring equipment.
The equipment belongs to the federation but they wanted to have it. I told them that will not happen under my reign,” Modongo said.
The affiliates also accused the BAFF founder of failing to build a fencing sport centre. He said that is an impossible dream that could not happen soon. Modongo has since taken sabbatical leave from fencing. He said he does not want to be active in the sport because he does not want to be accused of meddling in the affairs of BAFF.
For his part, BAFF president, Masuku said allegations about elections procedure were irrelevant. He said it was clear that they were made by somebody who is a sour loser.
“Those are false allegations. I am not in a position to respond to such. Talk to our public relations officer,” he said.