Times Of Swaziland: END OF AN ERA FOR SONNYBOY IN EWFA

END OF AN ERA FOR SONNYBOY IN EWFA
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BY PHOLSILE HLOPHE on 19/07/2021 08:32:00


MBABANE – There is a new sheriff in town.
Bonginkosi Mhlanga is the new Eswatini Women Football Association’s (EWFA)
chairman, ending Sonnyboy Mabuza’s era having led since 2014. The Elangeni
High School teacher won by a majority of eight votes yesterday while Mabuza got
four votes from the 12 voting teams. Mhlanga’s win yesterday marked the end of
former Chairman Sonnyboy Mabuza’s reign after eight years in the presidential
seat.
contest
The chairmanship contest ended up being a two-horse-race after the former
Secretary, Aaron ‘Katalala’ Mavimbela, stunned the members and withdrew from
the elections. He was followed by Ian Nxumalo, who according to Eswatini Ethics
Committee Chairman Magistrate Siphosini Dlamini, notified them via email of his
withdrawal. The elections were staged yesterday at the EFA’s Headquarters,
Sigwaca House in Mbabane. The new vice chairman, who will be second in command
to Mhlanga is Sindi Dludlu, who won by eight of 12 votes against the former
Treasurer Xolile Dlamini who received four votes. As per the new EWFA Statutes
that were adopted by the members during a special meeting held in May, the
positions of the general secretary and the treasurer were scrapped from the
elections as the EFA would hire  people for these positions on a full-time
basis.
The five members who were elected to join the executive comprised of former vice
chairperson, Thula Simelane, who out-classed contenders by 11 votes. Tied on
eight votes were Mavimbela, AS Inter Ladies’ Sabelo Dlamini and Shiselweni
Roses’ Director Enos Vilane. The decider for the fifth executive member
stretched for over 30 minutes as the members vote three times and in the end,
Lucky Dube managed to beat Bongisipho Mamba, Tomson Ndzinisa and Mfanzile
Vilakati, as he won by seven votes in the fourth round.
success
The ethics committee chairman thanked the EWFA members for the success of the
elections process. Dlamini thanked the members for respecting the voting
protocol and wished the new executive a productive term of office. “Thank you
all members for the smooth progress of the elections. Everything went well and
we would like to congratulate the new executive. Our duty is to ensure a free
and fair election without conflict of interest,” said Dlamini.