Emotions high as UDC confirms Motswaledi�s death
Sharon Mathala | Thursday July 31, 2014 12:38
Briefing journalists, UDC's head of mobilisation and organisation, Wynter Mmolotsi, disclosed that the party was scheduled to hold their general meeting where Motswaledi was to address the members. 'We were supposed to have a meeting yesterday [Tuesday] where Motswaledi was supposed to chair it as the party secretary-general. We, however, postponed it because of an emergency meeting he had to attend in Johannesburg,' he said.
He further said they had expected Motswaledi back in the country yesterday.
Mmolotsi further revealed that they received the news that the man popularly referred to as 'Sir G' in political circles had passed on following a horrific car accident.
'We do not have details at this point but have been told that he died after an accident a few kilometers from the South Africa-Botswana border post. Party officials Ndaba Gaolathe and Nehemiah Mmolotsi rushed to the scene when they received the news,' he said.
Motswaledi was driving his Audi A3 when the accident occured along the Ramatlabama-Pitsane road.
Also present at the press briefing was Botswana Federation of Public Sector Union (BOFEPUSU) secretary-general Tobokani Rari, UDC publicity secretary Moeti Mohwasa and other members of the UDC.
The 44-year-old Motswaledi was the oldest of three sons. He leaves behind a 14-year-old son. He was the UDC candidate for Gaborone Central where he was to face Botswana Congress Party’s Dumelang Saleshando, Botswana Democratic Party’s Rupert Hambira, and independent candidate DJ Sidney Baitsile.
Motswaledi and other disgruntled BDP members formed the Botswana Movement for Democracy in early 2010 in protest of what they termed as dictatorial and authoritarian rule by President Ian Khama of the BDP. Khama dismissed him from the party in 2009, a dispute, which ended up at the High Court in Lobatse. The court ruled that under Section 41 of the Constitution of Botswana, the president cannot be sued.