Rammidi somersaults on his earlier position
Larona Makhaiza | Tuesday September 8, 2026 16:32
Rammidi is now defending the decision by the party’s central committee to hold fire on president Mpho Balopi, saying the leadership does not have enough information to determine his fate. The about turn follows revelations that Balopi told Rammidi last week that the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) and Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had prepared charges against him. Balopi is set to appear before Regional Magistrate Mareledi Dipate on September 16 to be slapped with corruption charges regarding CEDA loans.
Balopi subsequently appeared before the central committee yesterday and gave his account of the matter when the committee convened for its monthly meetings. However, instead of taking action, the committee resolved that more information was needed as the matter was delicate. “Central committee felt it does not have logical material to reach a logical decision,” Rammidi said.
He added that the committee cannot be impulsive to reach decision without gathering all facts. “The matter is still new. We are still to be provided with more material,” he said. Rammidi’s latest position appears to depart from his earlier remarks that those on the wrong side of the law should step aside, putting his previous tough stance under scrutiny.
'We are not going to be hesitant to wait for the courts to make a final decision simply because you are presumed innocent until guilty. Immediately when you are charged your membership will be put on hold until your matter is resolved,' Rammidi previously said on one of the media briefings.
The BDP leadership will now await additional material before deciding whether any action should be taken against Balopi.
Meanwhile, the party is preparing for its national council scheduled for October, followed by an extraordinary congress at which it intends to conduct a comprehensive review of its constitution.