Minister of Sport and Arts Jacob Kelebeng has denied allegations that he refused to meet former members of the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) board following their dismissal, saying he remained in contact with the former chairperson and was tied up with parliamentary and cabinet commitments at the time.
Kelebeng was responding to claims contained in a Board Handover Report prepared by the eight former board members whose appointments were terminated in February 2026.
The former board alleges it repeatedly sought a meeting with the minister after receiving termination letters but was unsuccessful, prompting members to submit a detailed handover report directly to the Office of the President.
However, Kelebeng told News&All that he did not refuse to speak to or meet the former board.
“The truth of the matter is that I was busy with parliament and cabinet business and I was always in touch with the former chairman,” Kelebeng said.
He added that by the time he was able to create space for a meeting, the former board had already escalated the matter to the Office of the President.
“It was when I was finally done with parliament business that I sought to create time for them but they had already rushed to the Office of the President to complain,” he said.
According to the report, it was prepared for the purpose of “preserving key BNSC information, protecting the institutional knowledge of the BNSC, safeguarding the eight individuals on the decisions that could have been made with or without their knowledge, providing a seamless handover and for completeness of record.”
Kelebeng further said he has since met with the former board chairperson and there is no animosity between them. “I have even met with the former chairman and we are in good terms,” he said.
The minister also defended the decision to replace the board, saying the changes were intended to provide fresh leadership at the commission.
“The whole reason for changing things was to have a new board that would give BNSC a sense of new direction,” he said.
In the handover report, the former board says it immediately sought an audience with Kelebeng after receiving termination letters, arguing that a meeting was necessary to ensure an orderly transition and protect the integrity of Botswana’s sports administration.
“On the 10th of February 2026, with direction from the eight individuals, former Chairperson Mr. Marumo was assigned to request a meeting with the Minister,” the report states.
The proposed agenda included facilitating the handover process and ensuring “appropriate closure of our volunteer services.”
The report says former vice-chairperson Tebogo Lebotse Sebego later followed up with the minister, urging him to prioritise the meeting because of growing speculation surrounding the dismissals.
“To date our efforts to facilitate a meeting with Minister Kelebeng have been futile,” the report states.
The former board says it subsequently submitted the handover report to the Chief of Staff in the Office of the President, arguing that the move was necessary to preserve institutional memory and protect both the commission and former board members.
According to the report, it was prepared for the purpose of “preserving key BNSC information, protecting the institutional knowledge of the BNSC, safeguarding the eight individuals on the decisions that could have been made with or without their knowledge, providing a seamless handover and for completeness of record.”
The document also urges government to pay special attention to issues highlighted throughout the report.
Among the report’s key claims is an alleged pattern of direct engagement between the Ministry of Sports and Arts (MOSA) and BNSC executives outside board oversight.
According to the former board, the practice began during the tenure of former chief executive officer Tuelo Serufho and continued under former acting CEO Steven Makuke.
“The report highlights a gap with evident direct engagement with MOSA (outside Board oversight),” it states.
The former board says it eventually compelled Serufho to account for management decisions made without board knowledge, but alleges Makuke failed to do the same despite repeated instructions.
“Of concern, at this point, is that before the termination we had not received a handover report from Mr. Makuke despite clear and repeated instructions to that effect,” the report states.
The board says it had specifically requested documentation covering management decisions made during Makuke’s acting tenure, correspondence between BNSC and the ministry, as well as procurement records and awarded tenders.
The report also raises questions about the appointment of current BNSC chief executive officer Olebile Sikwane.
Beyond the leadership dispute, the report identifies several governance weaknesses within the commission. Among them is the commission’s failure to enforce compliance among National Sport Associations (NSAs), particularly regarding payment of annual subscriptions.
According to the former board, the recruitment process approved by the minister was handled by an independent human resources consultancy, which recommended Game Mothibi for the position.
The report alleges that Sikwane also applied for the post but was not recommended.
“For the record, Mr. Sikwane had applied for the position, was interviewed and was not recommended for this position,” the report states.
The former board also alleges that Sikwane was unwilling to receive a formal induction and handover from them following his appointment.
Beyond the leadership dispute, the report identifies several governance weaknesses within the commission. Among them is the commission’s failure to enforce compliance among National Sport Associations (NSAs), particularly regarding payment of annual subscriptions.
“A weakness that has persisted at the Commission is its inability to act against non-compliant NSAs,” the report states, adding that organisations which should have been barred from participating in general meetings were nevertheless allowed to do so.
The report also points to outdated policies that no longer adequately serve the commission, saying several governance instruments have “been overtaken by time.”
Despite the governance concerns, the former board says the commission made significant sporting progress during its tenure through the implementation of its Vision 2028 strategy.
It notes that Botswana won only one Olympic medal, a silver, between 2012 and 2020.
However, between 2021 and 2024, the country won three Olympic medals – one gold, one silver and one bronze – bringing Botswana closer to its Vision 2028 target of five Olympic gold medals.
The board nevertheless says inadequate funding, as well as government-driven projects such as the AFCON bid, the Botswana Golden Grand Prix and the World Relays, diverted attention from core strategic objectives and hampered delivery of some targets.
