The drawn-out war between the former Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) executive committee, led by Tshepho Bathai and the current office bearers is heading to court.
According to court papers filed before the High Court in Gaborone, Karabo Samuel, Bathai, Samuel Dire, and David Hubona are the applicants.
BOKA, led by its president, Mpho Bakwadi, Moemedi Nthapelelang, Othusitse Dick, Kemmonye Seletamotse, Keorapetse Dube, Union Kgafela, Francois Alberts, Bose Caiphus, Botswana Shito-Ryu Federation, Botswana Hayashi-Ha Karate Union, JKA Botswana World Federation, International Shotokan Karate Federation, and International Ryushin-Kan Karate Do Federation is listed as the respondents. Bathai refused to comment on the matter when contacted for comment.
“The matter is with the lawyers, please contact them,” he said. BOKA public relations officer, Keorapetse Dube told MmegiOnline that they have not received any summons from the lawyers.
He said they can only respond when they have been officially served with the papers. “This is a shock to us because they have never written to us stating their complaints. We do not know their contention.
They did not even write to the BOKA Appeals Board or the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC). Even their lawyer never wrote to us,” he said. Dube said it was a good decision for them to approach the court if they are not happy about some decisions that were taken. “We have only received letters from Samuel and Karate Nomichi regarding certain issues,” he said.
The fights escalated when a motion of no confidence was passed against the Bathai-led executive committee last year. Samuel and Hubona were barred from contesting the BOKA elections and the general assembly decided to expel Bathai from all karate activities.
