BNF could dismiss Temporary Platform

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday March 18, 2014 12:34

Mmegi understands that the BNF leadership believes that some members of the Temporary Platform have contravened BNF constitution by attacking party leadership and divulging party issues in public.

According to a source, BNF leadership says that some of the members of Temporary Platform are dragging the party’s name in the mud.  “Temporary Platform could long have been disbanded after they were heard by party central committee (CC). If they wanted to address any party structure, they know they should seek leadership authority to do so,” he said.  But members are only allowed to re-group if they want to raise concern or are not happy about how leadership runs the party temporarily. They should disband immediately after been heard, according to the source. Temporary Platform has been concerned that the new symbol for the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) is likely to confuse BNF members.  They strongly believe that BNF is not going to perform well in some of its strongholds during general elections. The Temporary Platform also wanted BNF leadership to call a special congress so that members could decide on the matter and whether to pull out from the umbrella collective or not.

Even after having been heard by BNF leadership, Temporary Platform members were not satisfied with answers they got from their leadership.  BNF secretary general Tapiso Kgosikoma told Mmegi that they will issue a press release on the matter on Thursday but he did not confirm or deny that they are intending to suspend some members.

“I cannot discuss this issue with the media. It is best you wait for our press release on Thursday,” he said.  One of the members of the platform, Meshack Mthimkhulu said they had only heard the rumours but haven’t received any letter from the BNF.

He suspects that if it is true it could be aimed at preventing them from their next move, which is to challenge Duma Boko’s membership card in an urgent court application.

“As far as I am concerned, I am a member of the BNF in good standing. We have enough evidence to support our case in court,” he said.