Garekwe takes BPF leadership to court challenging his suspension
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday September 1, 2025 06:00
Garekwe, in a newly filed notice of motion, claims that he has been wrongly suspended from the party without due process and in violation of the BPF constitution. He was suspended from the party on August 21, 2025, which he now challenges as unlawful and irrational.
Now, he has approached the court on an urgent basis against the BPF, its party president, Mephato Reatile, and secretary-general (SG), Lawrence Ookeditse, seeking an order from the court to review and suspend the decisions made by the BPF leadership, specifically his own suspension and that of other members from party activities and social media groups.
In detail, he seeks, among other things, that the party's decision to suspend him be reviewed and set aside, that the suspension be stayed, and that group members and administrators not delete him and others from the party's WhatsApp group. “Declaring that the decision of the party to suspend him and others is unlawful and directing the party and others to desist from any acts of intimidation, harassment or threats directed at him and others,” reads the court documents.
In his founding affidavit, Garekwe has explained that he fears that if the suspension is allowed to stand, he will be excluded from participating in the upcoming elective congress scheduled for November 2025, where he intends to run for the SG position. According to court documents, the dispute arises from a series of communications issued by the party’s SG between March and July 2025.
These communications included the postponement of the party’s National Conference and Women and Youth Congress from July to August, and the instruction for party structures to prepare for the events. However, Garekwe argues that these decisions were taken without proper consultation or constitutional compliance.
“Members raised several concerns about the lack of communication, transparency, and the failure to follow the party constitution regarding the calling and organization of the congresses,” he said. He has claimed that the memos sent out by the party leadership failed to specify the agenda of the congresses, as required by Clause 13.6 of the party constitution. Furthermore, Garekwe also points out that Clause 15.4.8, which mandates the National Executive Committee (NEC) to present reports, financial statements, and the work of the party to the conference, was not followed.
Garekwe states that, according to the BPF Constitution, the power to suspend members lies with the Disciplinary and Appeals Committees, not the party president or secretary general. “The suspensions are illegal in that the respondents do not have the power to suspend the applicant or any party member. Such power to suspend rests with the party’s Disciplinary and Appeals Committees as per Clause 40.5 and 41.5 of the Constitution respectively,” he argued.
He also says the leadership acted irrationally and outside their legal powers, and that no reasonable decision-maker could have taken such a decision without following the rules set by the party’s constitution. Subsequently, he pointed out that the matter is urgent because his rights as a member are in danger of being permanently lost, and he fears being blocked from participating in the congress as both a delegate and candidate.
“Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that a party member acting in terms of the Constitution would be subjected to such treatment,” he said. In conclusion, Garekwe hopes that the court will intervene to restore his rights as a member and candidate within the BPF. The respondents are yet to file, as Garekwe only filed this week on Wednesday.
The BPF is going for its National conference tomorrow at Kwena Setso JSS in Molepolole, and the suspended members would not attend or contribute to any decision-making. However, the Youth League and Women’s League will, on Saturday and Sunday, elect their leadership.