BFL appeals over 'uncooperative' witness in Zakhem case
Tuesday, March 18, 2025 | 200 Views |
Lekedi centre. PIC PHATSIMO KAPENG
The case followed a match between GU and BDF XI on February 2, in which Zakhem was accused of attacking match officials at the end of the match. Sebeela was the match commissioner on the day and his report was key in BFL deciding to charge Zakhem and GU. The club and Zakhem were facing four counts of misconduct and the case was heard last Thursday. Seebela is said to have changed his statement during cross-examination, "contradicted the contents of his signed match report, became evasive and defensive," according to a BFL letter to the BFA on the match commissioner's conduct. "He ended up lying under oath in favour of the accused,"
BFL chief executive, Bennett Mamelodi said in the letter addressed to his counterpart at BFA, Mfolo Mfolo. "The effect of Mr Sebeela's conduct was to collapse and plainly kill our case on the basis that our star witness was unreliable and dishonest," the letter further reads. Mamelodi said that faced with the prospect of losing the case due to an unreliable witness, they decided to withdraw the case against GU and Zakhem, leaving the BFL "embarrassed". "What Sebeela did is unacceptable and makes a mockery of our efforts to clean football and maintain law and order, something which our commercial partners demand. We are, therefore, appealing to you (BFA) to assist us resolve this gross misconduct on the part of Mr Sebeela," Mamelodi stated. "Surely you will accept that this is not something that can be allowed to go unpunished. In the meantime, Mr Sebeela should not be included in matches of the Botswana Football League," he wrote. Mfolo confirmed to MmegiSport that they had received the letter from BFL. "Yes, we have received the correspondence yesterday and we are still studying it," he said.
Batswana who marched peacefully for 'Justice for Tshepi' demanded answers. They have now received a detailed account of police investigation and a promise that the file is with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The real test is whether the state now keeps its word without further prodding. In his address, the minister asked the nation to trust the process. He spoke of rigour, not neglect, and pointed to 10 months of...