Open vote sinks Palai’s motion
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday July 10, 2026 11:52
The motion, initiated by independent councillor Tshenolo Palai, never reached the debate stage after councillors rejected a request to include it on the council agenda.
Therefore, it failed to proceed on procedural grounds.
Instead, councillors first voted on whether Palai's letter seeking a motion of no confidence should be admitted for discussion, with about 30 UDC councillors voting against the proposal.
However, the debate preceding the vote suggested that the outcome may not have reflected the full extent of opinion within the governing party.
Throughout the proceedings, several councillors insisted that the vote should be conducted by secret ballot rather than by a show of hands.
They argued that members should be allowed to vote freely without fear of political repercussions.
The issue unfolded against the backdrop of a recent directive by UDC executive secretary, Dr Patrick Molutsi.
He had written to the party's councillors and Members of Parliament, reminding them to abide by caucus decisions and warning that disciplinary action may be taken against members who defy the party.
The political tension was further heightened by the presence of senior UDC leaders in the public gallery, with some councillors appearing uncomfortable as the vote approached.
Leading the call for a secret ballot was Phakalane ward councillor, Kaisara Sejoe, who argued that the Local Government Act provides for secret voting in such circumstances.
He also questioned whether Motlaleng should preside over proceedings involving a matter directly affecting his position.
'Why don't you want the secret ballot to be used as stipulated in the Local Government Act? You are conflicted in this matter because it concerns you,' Sejoe said.
Motlaleng, however, dismissed the argument, saying councillors were not yet dealing with the motion of no confidence itself but merely deciding whether Palai's request should be placed on the agenda.
'I know what you are trying to do. We are not there yet,' Motlaleng responded.
'We are currently voting on whether his motion should be placed on the agenda. The clause you are referring to applies to the election of the mayor. As things stand, there is no motion before Council because it is not on the agenda,' he added.
The Mayor, however, made it clear that he has made a decision that those who do not support Palai’s letter must stand up or raise their hands. Furthermore, Motlaleng said what he was doing was in line with Council procedures as the Mayor of the city.
Moreover, Motlaleng said he was aware that some have the intention to try to tarnish his image so that they claim that things were not done orderly or unfairly.
“I have nothing to fear. If members agree with Palai’s letter, then I will put the issue on the agenda, and the normal procedure will be done without fear or favour. I have nothing to worry about,” he said.
The Mayor's interpretation prevailed, and councillors proceeded with an open vote, effectively ending Palai's attempt before the substantive motion could be considered.
The decision did not sit well with opposition councillors, who argued that an open vote denied members the opportunity to vote according to their conscience on a politically sensitive matter. Some opposition councillors later walked out of the chamber in protest.
Although the ruling party ultimately voted as a bloc, the intense push for a secret ballot and the atmosphere inside the chamber highlighted underlying tensions within the UDC.
The proceedings also reignited debate over whether party discipline should take precedence over councillors' independent judgment when dealing with matters of confidence in elected leaders.
For now, Motlaleng remains in office after surviving the procedural hurdle.
Nevertheless, Monday's sitting demonstrated that questions surrounding his leadership are unlikely to disappear anytime soon, even though the no-confidence motion itself was never formally debated.
Still on the matter, Palai was advised that the matter could go on formal procedure, but it will then be after six months. Meanwhile, the Palapye District Council (PDC) case over the council chairperson seat will be heard on August 3, 2026, for status and arguments.
The matter was supposed to be heard on Monday, but was postponed as the fourth respondent, Kabo Ketshogile, was said to have filed his court papers that morning. Therefore, other parties were allowed to be able to respond to them.
Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) councillor, David Ikanyeng, has taken the Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs together with PDC to court.
His decision came after councillors voted to remove council chairperson Ketshogile through a motion of no confidence and elected him as a new chairperson.
However, the Minister of Local Government later overturned that decision and reinstated Ketshogile, prompting the council to challenge the minister’s decision in court.