BAA affiliates put foot down
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday November 26, 2024 11:23
The affiliates went against some decisions that were pronounced by the BAA president, Moses Bantsi, during a meeting held over the weekend. It all started when an argument ensued between the affiliates, Bantsi and his board regarding the status of clubs that are eligible to attend the meeting. Bantsi told the meeting that they received conflicting information from the Registrar of Societies (ROS). “The ROS sent us the first letter and a few minutes later they called to say that they are withdrawing it. We were advised to come and collect another letter. That is where the confusion arose, the principle was still the same; it stated that member affiliates can attend the meeting. Our affiliates faced difficulties to try to re-register at ROS, that is a situation we are facing now,” he said. Bantsi said there were 17 clubs that were compliant with the ROS and were to be in the meeting.
He said there were eight clubs that are non-compliant. Bantsi explained that some of the non-compliant clubs are in good standing with the BAA because they have been competing in the series, have development programmes and some athletes in the national teams. “Yes, they are non-compliant, but we cannot throw them away but there are some that have not been active,” he said. Harold Mosomane of Ramotswa Athletics Club said the first correspondence that they received stated that all affiliates can attend the meeting, followed by another which stated that the first one was nullified because of the one that was leaning on the law. “My contention is, what are you saying about clubs that are here but according to the law are not part of this meeting? Do you take responsibility as the president that you allow clubs that did not comply to be part of this meeting? And that every decision taken in this meeting is binding and will not be nullified because we were with non-compliant clubs?” Mosomane asked. Thari Mooketsi of Lefika Athletics Club said the BAA constitution should be followed at all times and clubs that did not re-register should not be allowed to participate in the meeting, as they can only be observers. “A mistake has happened, those clubs should not be here. If we continue on this route, the government can even suspend us for breaking the law. Everyone is allowed to compete in the BAA series but that does not mean they are compliant.
The BAA affiliates in good standing should be compliant with ROS, it is common sense and procedure,” argued Mooketsi. Meanwhile, the board was taken by surprise when affiliates proposed that the BAA legal advisor, Thabo Kedikilwe, be excused from the meeting. “It is difficult for me to remove the attorney from the meeting because I have introduced him to you. It is a provision in the constitution to have a legal advisor in our meetings,” Bantsi said. Ralph Ledimo of Maun Track and Field Club said there is procedure that has to be followed, not that affiliates do not want the legal advisor but they have realised that the he only represents the interests of the board not affiliates. Mosomane made a follow up that until the legal advisor is formally introduced to the affiliates, not imposed on them like what happened, he should be removed from the meeting until procedure is followed. Kedikilwe was finally ushered out of the meeting.
However, the affiliates dumped the Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) and moved to a Special General Meeting (SGM) as affiliates felt that they have a lot of things they wanted the board to put in order.