In February, Bogatsu was charged with four counts of misconduct, including bringing the name of the association into disrepute, unauthorised use of the association's property, and failure to surrender BBA's property. He was found guilty of all three counts. The fourth count relates to dishonesty, of which he was not found guilty. The BBA disciplinary committee, comprising Tyiyapo Mokobi-Mokhosoa (chairperson), Phemo Mosweunyane, and George Tshikare passed its verdict on March 26 in his absence. “You were duly served with the notice of the disciplinary hearing on March 23 via email. Two phone calls were made to you on the date of the hearing that rang unanswered and a 30-minute waiting period was granted, however, there was no attendance by yourself,” a letter from the committee reads.
Bogatsu told MmegiSport there could be no disciplinary committee hearing before a commission of inquiry was done first. “That was a joke of a hearing. I never bothered myself and I even wrote to Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) informing them that the BBA president, Modisaotsile Badubi, appointed the disciplinary committee and it was not endorsed by clubs,” he said. Bogatsu said there was a meeting with the BBA executive committee and the BNSC before the hearing and the BNSC instructed that the BBA committee should respond to his letter. However, he said the response was a disciplinary hearing. In an interview, Badubi said the BBA constitution prescribes how sub-structures and sub-committees are formed of which the disciplinary committee is one such structure. “However, bearing in mind that the disciplinary committee is supposed to be impartial, the national executive committee resolved to appoint independent people who do not have any vested interest in the sport. The committee has been appointed for a period of 24 months with the possibility of renewal to preside over not only this matter but all disciplinary matters in this period,” Badubi said.
When asked about the meeting with the BNSC, Badubi explained that it was made clear to Bogatsu that the BBA is a self-governing entity with internal processes as prescribed by the constitution. They further advised the association to use those processes to conclude the matter,” he said. Badubi said the meeting with the BNSC was convened following several correspondences Bogatsu wrote to them asking them to intervene in the BBA affairs, over which they do not have jurisdiction. He said before the matter was escalated to the disciplinary committee, all the clubs were consulted and brought to speed on what was happening.
He added that clubs were provided with evidence contrary to Bogatsu's claims of mismanagement and members decided that charges be brought against him. Bogatsu was alleged to have on or about February 12 Bogatsu authored a letter making a series of unfounded allegations against members of the national executive committee of which allegations were circulated to the Badminton World Federation (BWF), the Badminton Confederation Africa (BCA), the BNSC, the Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC), the affiliates and the media. “It is alleged that on or about February 14, 2024, you without proper authorisation disabled the BBA email domain, which was under your sole administration in your previous role as secretary-general. It is alleged that following your removal as secretary-general effective February 11, 2024, you refused to surrender back any property of the association,” the letter reads in part. Bogatsu was accused of claiming P10, 000 from the BBA account without authorisation, by misleading the account signatories of whom neither one of them was a member of the national executive committee.
