BPF dismantles disciplinary body
Chakalisa Dube | Sunday May 15, 2022 19:49
Butale was slapped with a suspension pending a disciplinary hearing early last year, but to this day he is yet to undergo a hearing. He was suspended for allegedly sexually violating a student party activist. But he denies any wrongdoing.
The party has in the past cited COVID-19 restrictions as the reason for not conducting the hearing. While the COVID-19 restrictions were then lifted, the party never showed any commitment to conduct the hearing.
Mmegi has since established that the committee was dismantled at the party’s recently held central committee (CC) meeting. Sources have told the publication that the DC was dismantled after it was established that it has not been active which is amongst the reasons Butale’s hearing never materialised. The sources added that the CC only found that only three of the seven people were active in the committee.
“At the meeting (recent CC meeting) a consensus was reached that a new DC be installed. Peter Kgothwane, Pini Morupisi and Anne Joubert are amongst those who were recommended by the NEC to be part of the DC. The DC has a total of seven members,” said an insider.
Early in March 2022, the recently dissolved DC was given a mandate to expedite Butale’s hearing after some NEC members complained that it has taken long for the hearing to be conducted. The DC was to report progress made to the party in relation to conducting the hearing on April 23rd, but reportedly failed to do so. This prompted the executive to dissolve the disciplinary structure.
There are also reports that at the recent NEC meeting some of those who are sympathetic to Butale maintained that his charges should be quashed because it has taken a very long time to try him.
BPF spokesperson, Lawrence Ookeditse confirmed that the party has set up a new disciplinary body.
“We looked into the matter at the previous NEC and when we looked at it there had been a bit of a delay. Of course, we understood some of the reasons previously such as regional COVID-19 lockdowns. From there, there were issues of timing between both parties in terms of who is available and who is not available. Despite these challenges it is important to put this matter to rest. We then decided after consulting the DC and made a resolution to dissolve the DC and appoint a new one,” Ookeditse told Mmegi.
According to him, the party has already written to prospective members of the committee and is waiting for their response.
“Let me just say that the whole process is about to be completed. Once it has been completed the new DC will begin its work including conducting Butale’s hearing. I can’t name the prospective members because they are yet to respondent to the party (in relation to serving in the DC).”
Ookeditse emphasised that in appointing the DC, the BPF is looking at the DC that will effectively serve the party.
“We are not looking for a DC that will look at one matter. We are looking at a DC that will be a standing structure of the party, that will be in a position to ensure that disciplinary codes and other ethical conducts of the party are adhered to. It is not about one person.”