New GCC Clerk walks into a political minefield
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday July 13, 2026 06:00
Batsalelwang becomes the third town clerk to serve at the council since the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) assumed control of the capital city following the 2024 General Election under the leadership of Mayor Oarabile Motlaleng.
Her appointment comes against the backdrop of persistent tensions between elected councillors and senior council management, a relationship that accusations of political interference, governance disputes and administrative instability have repeatedly characterised.
The first casualty of the strained relationship was former town clerk Lopang Pule. Shortly after taking over the council, UDC councillors pushed for his removal, arguing that he was aligned to the former ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). Although no official evidence was presented publicly to support the claim, the allegations fuelled calls for his exit.
Following Pule's departure, Motlaleng recommended the appointment of then deputy town clerk Daniel Katjiontjwa, expressing confidence that the two would work well together. At the time, the move was viewed as an attempt to restore stability within the council's administration. However, that stability proved short-lived.
As months passed, differences reportedly emerged between Motlaleng and Katjiontjwa over several governance issues. What had initially appeared to be a strong working relationship gradually deteriorated, culminating in Katjinotjiwa's transfer to the Ministry responsible for local government. His departure paved the way for Batsalelwang to assume the role of acting town clerk.
Her appointment now places her at the centre of a council that has, over the past two years, witnessed recurring disputes between political leaders and administrative officials. The developments at GCC mirror a broader trend seen in several local authorities where town clerks and council secretaries often find themselves at loggerheads with councillors over their respective roles.
In many instances, councillors accuse senior administrators of failing to implement political decisions, while administrators argue that elected leaders frequently overstep their mandate by interfering in operational matters. According to sources familiar with developments at GCC, some councillors have allegedly sought to influence the work of civil servants, particularly in procurement matters and the enforcement of council by-laws.
It is further alleged that pressure has been exerted on officials to disregard established procedures in handling certain regulatory issues. Among the controversies that have dominated discussions at the council was the procurement of office furniture reportedly worth close to P1 million. Critics have questioned whether proper procurement procedures were followed before the purchase was approved.
The matter has since become one of several issues that have exposed divisions within the council. Another contentious issue has been the postponement of a full council meeting, a decision that further fuelled tensions between councillors and the council's administration. Some UDC councillors were complaining that the same companies that are still benefiting from council tenders are the old ones who were benefiting during the BDP era.
Meanwhile, divisions have also surfaced within the UDC caucus itself. While some ruling party councillors continue to support Motlaleng, others have joined opposition councillors in accusing the mayor of creating factions within the council. His critics allege that he favours certain councillors over others and has increasingly interfered in the day-to-day responsibilities of council employees.
They argue that such actions have contributed to deteriorating relations between the political leadership and the administration, ultimately affecting service delivery. Motlaleng, however, has strongly rejected the allegations. Addressing councillors during Tuesday's full council meeting, the mayor maintained that he had done nothing wrong and suggested that there were individuals determined to damage his reputation.
'I am aware that there are people who want to tarnish my image,' Motlaleng told the meeting, dismissing claims that he interferes with the work of council officials. The ongoing tensions also attracted the attention of the Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa, who used the same meeting to remind both councillors and administrators of the need to respect the legal boundaries governing local authorities.
Motshegwa stressed that councillors must understand their oversight role and avoid interfering in the day-to-day administration of councils. 'Councillors must know their mandate and understand how government operates. Councillors must know issues of governance. Councillors must know that their office is the mayor's office, not the town clerk's office,' he said. Motshegwa said all vacancies at GCC will be filled by the end of this month.
With Batsalelwang now assuming the acting town clerk position, attention will inevitably shift to whether she can foster a more constructive relationship with the mayor and councillors. Equally, observers will be watching whether the council's political leadership is prepared to respect administrative processes and allow officials to execute their duties without undue interference.