Mothei wins BDP primaries for Bophirima ward
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday February 22, 2022 06:00
Out of the 12 council by-elections held so far, Saturday’s aspirant candidates contesting for the ward were all women. What made members content was the fact that even those who had lost vowed to support the winner so that the party could retain the ward. This ward became vacant after the councillor for Bophirima ward, Kagiso Mongwaketse, passed on last month.
Onkemetse Mothei is now the aspirant candidate for the ward after garnering 91 votes. Ntebaleng Kedumele received 87 votes, Kenewang Oganetswe got 58 while only one vote was spoiled. BDP presiding officer, Motlhophi Leo said on Saturday after the announcement of the results that only 110 came to vote out of 237 on the voters roll. “Even if there was a low turnout, there was peace at the primaries because all candidates were cooperative and they did not even complain when the results were announced.
What was most impressive was that they vowed to help the winner for us to retain the ward,” he said. “They understood that this is an internal election meant to enhance democracy so that we choose our aspirant candidate.
This is what our party needs. The primaries are not supposed to divide us rather they should make us stronger.” He was elated that women are showing interest in the primaries to represent the party, which is a good move. Leo said if more women contested elections, then the percentage of women representation in councils and Parliament would increase.
The newly elected BDP aspirant candidate promised party members that she will work hand-in-hand with those that lost and requested that they be part of the campaign trail. “What I will advocate if elected to council, is the unemployment rate which is high in our area, internal roads which are bad and the issue of street lights,” Mothei said. “Our ward is dark because street lights are not working, which ends up increasing crime in the area. The issue of internal roads also needs to be attended to because our roads in the city must be different from the village ones.”