The SAFA Elective Congress came, and it is now behind us. It is in the past. So is the Extra-ordinary Congress that took place a week before the Congress, and so is the controversial Ordinary Congress that took place on the 26th of March.
The pushing and pulling amongst the presidential candidates seem to have simmered down. Even the rhetoric that came from their supporters through various channels, including social media also seem to have calmed down. All the shenanigans that we have seen, heard about, and read about at the Regional Congresses that left scars in many football-loving leaders, operators and administrators also seem to have quieten down. Radio and TV interviews for presidential candidates have been forgotten and now there are new things happening. Choices have been made. SAFA Members have spoken.
Without going into detail of what the original problem was, it is still safe to say that such a problem has not been resolved. To date, we still sit with the mentality that has caused the original problems and continues with that line of thinking. A choice must be made whether to pretend as if this problem does not exist anymore, if it still exist, that we are no longer affected by it, keep that hope that things will change by themselves in time, or we should decide that such a problem be tackled head and finally resolved without a waste of time because just to sit still would be a sin. It is understood that we go with the latter.
A lot of things went wrong, and our people were blinded by the false principles and vicious rhetoric. For instance, within our democracy and even within our institutions, it is the constitution that is supreme, not members or votes. In fact, membership, tabling or matters, and voting is regulated by the constitution. The only thing members can do to the constitution is amend it. Even with that, the very same constitution regulates how it is to be amended.
This means, if members come to the Congress and want to vote for a particular resolution, the constitution prescribes how the matter is to be tabled, how long must the document be shared with all members before the Congress, considering these logistics, how to declare the Congress as properly convened, how the such a matter must sit on the Agenda and what happens if the matter is not on the Agenda, how to amend the Agenda, how the matter is presented and discussed, and how resolutions are made. Stepping out of these bounds is the violation of the constitution.
It is the responsibility of the leadership to prevent the constitutional violations. Leaders do that in the best interest of the institution, ensuring that decisions made a solid and enforceable without prospects of being rescinded or nullified. But if leadership fails to do that, and members proceed to participate in violating the constitution, ultimately a violation is committed and must be challenged. And unfortunately, challenging a violation that would come about through voting by members can still be challenged, reviewed and rescinded or nullified by few legal professionals if they find that the constitution was indeed violated – why – because the constitution is supreme.
Majority rules, yes, but it also rules through proper processes and procedures as should be properly guided by leadership. Violating these nullifies the power of the majority. Yes, majority can be wrong.
Can SAFA really survive with blatant, continual, and consistent constitutional violations? We say ‘No.’ It is busy dying a slow death operationally, technically, financially, and otherwise. The future of our young, up and coming star players, coaches, match officials, administrators, and leaders is at risk. We cannot be on autopilot and hope for the best. We must do something.
Let us correct what is wrong within our strength. Let us start by reviewing and rectifying the wrongs prior, before and after the Ordinary Congress of the 26th of March 2022, including the Extra-Ordinary Congress that took place on the 18th of June 2022 and the ‘elective’ Congress that took place on the 25th of June 2022. Ms. Ria Ledwaba and Mr. Solly Mohlabeng agree and have been on record saying that the foundation laid for what was to happen on the 25th of June was wrong, and not to cease to amaze, what happened on the 25th of June was actually wrong as warned.
So, Ms. Ledwaba and Mr. Mohlabeng lodged a dispute with SAFA two months ago. In their dispute request papers they clearly stated their disputes regarding the above-mentioned issues, with workable solutions. They followed a SAFA process in doing so. SAFA decided to use ‘technicalities’ to dismiss their request, facts around such technicalities of which are false and incorrect. They made a this decision and communicated such through SAFA’s legal representatives. Briefly, the lodged dispute did not see the light of day. A simple thing they could have done was to allow the arbitration to proceed, and they would put their side of the story in front of the arbitrator, and if those things that the office meted out were true, then the arbitrator was going to pronounce same in his / her ruling, and the matter would have been concluded.
Ms. Ledwaba and Mr. Mohlabeng believe that their rights to request for an arbitration have been violated by the Office of SAFA. In fact, they believe that the office erred when they denied them access to arbitration.
This matter is now going to court. Ms. Ledwaba and Mr. Mohlabeng have now requested to court to hear this matter as SAFA failed to facilitate same through their own processes. The court dates are still to be confirmed. SAFA has been made aware of the court action and their legal representatives have been instructed to oppose the matter.
Ultimately this dispute must be heard and resolved. If SAFA will not facilitate that, then the South African Courts will.
For specifics in detail, please make a request for interviewing either Mr. Mohlabeng or Ms. Ledwaba or both directly with them. Alternatively, you may book them or ask specific questions via info@solly4president.net.
S4P Campaign Team
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