Kgathi officially joins BDP SG race
Chakalisa Dube | Monday June 27, 2022 06:00
Kgathi confirmed in an interview that he is interested in contesting for the position of party SG. This comes just a week after Nonofo Molefhi confirmed that he intends to contest for the position of BDP chairperson at the party’s elective congress in August.
Since last year there have been reports that the former Bobonong Member of Parliament (MP) is interested in contesting for the position of SG.
“I have served as the DSG for two terms, and I believe that I have the prerequisites to contest for the position of secretary general.
I have already had the courtesy to inform the party leadership of my desire to contest for the position of SG,” Kgathi told Mmegi through a telephone call this week.
“I will hit the campaign trail as soon as the party allows prospective candidates to do so. I will also give details about my candidacy very soon,” he added.
There are however, reports that Kgathi is not President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s preferred candidate. It is still not clear as to who Masisi prefers as SG, but there are reports that he is backing businessman Lesang Magang who is also the former chairperson of the party’s national youth executive committee (NYEC).
Magang has been open about his desire to succeed Mpho Balopi as the party SG. Balopi has reportedly fallen out with President Masisi a development that has seen him being sidelined from key party activities.
Vice President and party chairperson has replaced Balopi as the face of the ruling party. Balopi recently announced that he will not defend his seat as SG months after quitting Masisi’s Cabinet.
Kgathi said that he is not aware that he is not President Masisi’s preferred choice.
“I have worked with the party leadership for a very longtime and they know me very well. That I do not know (that the party leadership) is against his candidacy,” he said this week.
It is also not clear if Kgathi is aligned to any lobby group as he has indicated that details surrounding his candidacy will come out soon.
Apart from Magang, other BDP members who reportedly want to contest for the position of SG are Dr Alfred Madigela who once served in Cabinet.
There have also been reports that some BDP members are pushing for the position of SG to be a fully paid position other than an elective one.
Quizzed about people who have expressed interest in the race for the BDP powerful position of SG, the BDP spokesperson, Kagelelo Kentse said that those interested are yet to openly declare their wish to contest.
“They are simply playing their cards very close to their chests and I prefer you ask me the same question next week,” Kentse said as a parting shot.