Did BFA mishandle Mamelodi’s suspension?

  • Mamelodi suspended three times without a disciplinary hearing, a breach of labour laws
  • Authenticity of the report questioned, auditors did not spend more than 36 hours in Botswana – claim
  • Mamelodi publicly shamed but was not the signatory of the said transactions – source

BONGANI MALUNGA

The deadlock between the Botswana Football Association and suspended Botswana Premier League Chief Executive Officer Bennett Mamelodi has reportedly been caused by reports of shortcuts, bent rules and alleged forgery if the words relayed by a Gazette Sport source are anything to go by.
The source told this publication that the association’s top brass erred in their efforts to rush to a conclusion on Mamelodi’s future. According to a source, Mamelodi’s December suspension appears illegal as it was not authorized by the National Executive Committee but by an emergency committee made up of Maclean Letshwiti, Segolame Ramotlhwa and Marshlow Motlogelwa as they cited an ongoing forensic investigation as their reason, a claim denied by BFA CEO Susan Lawrence.
His suspension is said to have not been presented, discussed or adopted by the NEC, the emergency committee reportedly made the decision on their own.
It is believed that the BFA’s leadership took matters into their own hands by overseeing the forensic audit which would have been directed by the BPL Board. Unconfirmed reports suggest that there exists a conspiracy scheme to fast track Mamelodi’s exit. The reports imply that a recently suspended official was asked to forge and tamper with figures that would increase the strength of a case against Mamelodi.
To date, Mamelodi has been suspended three times without being called for a disciplinary hearing, a breach of labour laws. A report of the forensic audit carried out by South African company ADM Financial and Forensic Services was leaked to the media a fortnight ago containing information that implied that Mamelodi approved and oversaw what they deemed as questionable transactions.
The BPL CEO was cited as a wrongdoer in the said transactions, however, Gazette Sport was informed that Mamelodi does not have the powers to authorize transactions in the BPL, he is rather third in line in terms of making those kind of calls.
Despite the leak, the BFA (although they have distanced themselves from the leak) has still not presented Mamelodi and his legal representative a whole copy of the findings of the audit.
Information reaching this publication states that the South African auditors performed a questionable auditing exercise as they spent less than 36 hours in Botswana. Reports indicate that they were denied a permit by the Department of Immigration to carry out the audit.
The above mentioned report was also refuted by the BFA when contacted for their comment as they stated that the company spent enough time in Botswana to complete the audit. Reportedly, the company did not set up shop at the BPL offices for a longer time in order to execute a full investigation, Mamelodi, Walter Kgabung and Solomon Mantswe were not interviewed or interrogated as per the expectations of the accused being given chances to respond to investigations. The accused were reportedly denied a chance to have face to face meetings with the auditors.
Although Mamelodi has been informed of the findings of the audit and instructed to show just cause why he should not face punishment, he has reportedly been denied the full contents of the audited report and his team has questioned the motive behind the act. Conspiracy theorists believe that the above mentioned errors by the BFA brass have contributed to the current deadlock between themselves and Mamelodi.
A disciplinary hearing for Mamelodi is reportedly being lined up as the association continues to build their case against the BPL CEO.