Aggrieved BDP members plan court action

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday February 17, 2014 08:00

The group intends to contest the general elections as independent candidates if they do not get a satisfactory resolution to their grievances. The members say after their appeals were dismissed, their attempts to meet the party top brass has failed. They say their cases were not dealt with fairly by the regional committee or the BDP Appeals Board.  A spokesman of the group, Davis Gabokgethwe said if the party leadership fails to listen to them, they will have to take the matter to court.  'Our appeals in Mahalapye East were not listened to either by the region or Appeals Board. How can someone dismiss your case without calling you for a hearing? We had requested for an appointment to meet the party secretary general, Mpho Balopi and party chairman, Ponatshego Kedikilwe,' he said.

He said Balopi had promised to come back to them about their desire to meet the party leadership but this never happened. Gabokgethwe said they were shocked by letters they received from the BDP central committee, which stated that their cases were dismissed because there was no evidence to back their claims. He said before the primary elections were held, they had written to the Electoral Board to complain about the voters' roll. He said they were never given a chance to inspect the roll.

Gabokgethwe said they are consulting with members in the last three wards in the constituency to hear their views on the matter. Most BDP members who lost primary elections in the constituency have closed ranks to press their case.  They face an uphill task because the decisions of central committee in appeals are final and binding. The BDP executive secretary, Sechele Sechele said the Malahapye group might have made an appointment with the party leadership through other channels. Balopi told Mmegi that those who are unhappy with the outcome of their cases can go and see the Appeals Board. He declined to talk about the fate of the meeting the Mahalapye group was supposed to have with the party leadership.