Dorcas Makgato who described Bathobake as a very sweet, sensitive and calm, says the number of women in Parliament has now gone down from six to five. She was the second woman in history to have made it into Parliament from the opposition parties.
“As women in politics we were happy for Bathobakae that slowly women were penetrating politics. It has been difficult for women to be voted during general elections, especially from the opposition. The relationship we had with her cannot be explained by anyone, especially during women caucus. Our voices were united when it came to women issues, and no one could recognise that she was from the opposing side,” Makgato said. 4She said Bathobakae was not a loud person, and even during Parliament debates, it needed someone who has a sharp intellect to understand her point. “She had love for her constituency. Every time when she stands, the first thing was ‘Batlokwa ba sokola’. We were proud to hear a woman from the opposing side who knew why she was voted. At times we used to ask her to calm her comrades when their tempers were high. We will miss her as women,” she said. Bathobakae’s bosom pal in Parliament, Botlogilwe Tshireletso said their connection started the day she debutted in Parliament.
