The Julius Malema threat and the intelligence Run X affair

Richard Moleofe | Friday September 19, 2014 14:28

It was so because Julius Malema, leader of the EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters), a South African opposition party in parliament, was expected to grace the event. At this launch, Malema was nowhere to be seen because the powers that be had elected to turn down his visa application. This country perceives him as a threat because of the remarks he made some time back in the history of Botswana.

It is with much irony that when Malema was a guest of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party a few years ago, all was well and the relationship was rosy. And it is with further irony that the BDP had just had a fundraising dinner with their billionaire friend Patrice Motsepe, who is Malema’s fellow countryman. Wait until he says something averse to the ruling party and all hell will break loose.

I, for one, do not subscribe to the ideas that Malema has about this country and particularly about the American connection at Thebephatshwa  Air Base. I spent my whole career at BDF until I retired, and in all those years I traversed that base left, right and centre but never came close to sniff the American presence. I had high security clearance and would never have missed the presence of American soldiers in that entire period. So, readers must consider this as a mythical misconception. This was a lie that was peddled by the South African intelligence in the old era because they could not understand how a neighbouring third world country could build a state of the art security complex which they did not have at the time and still don’t have in the present. In fact, the Americans have had no hand in the entire project and they are always amazed when they see that state of the art military facility. The planning was done by a British colonel and constructed by a French firm which was sub contracted by a few South African construction companies.

It is in the tradition of the UDC (Umbrella for Democratic Change) that veteran politicians are given the task of delivering  the closing benediction at every political rally. Rre Bodigelo goes over the podium and goes to announce this; “Lona batho ba DIS ba le leng teng fa, ke batla go le roma ko go Khama gore le mo ree a bulele bojalwa jwa Setswana (let me announce to the DIS operatives present here that they must go and tell Khama that he must allow for the brewing of traditional beer)”

The gathering was attended by the largest number of intelligence operatives, both from the DIS and Military Intelligence, and the leadership had been briefed on this development. The old man, Veteran Bodigelo just wanted to send the message to them that the leadership was very aware of their presence. He just found something to talk about in order to addresses these men and women who were definitely some unwelcome guests amongst us. I mean, traditional beer had nothing to do with that political meeting.

Rre Bodigelo was completely out of topic but being the wise man that we know him to be, it was for the purpose of confronting these intelligence operatives. Someone seated next to me remarked that Rre Bodigelo was out of topic because the candidate we came to launch was far much more out of topic. Arafat Khan failed to seize the moment availed to address the multitudes present about his roadmap on the development of the ward. A lot that he said was tabloid stuff (tshele) as he went on talking about people who were jealous of him and those who went about gossiping about him. Sedirwa “Chillyman” Kgoroba had set a very good example for him in the previous week when he was launched. We all left Kgoroba’s launch with a clear understanding of the issues he was determined to tackle head on from the day he will be elected to parliament.

As we dispersed from the ground where this political event was taking place, it was clear that most vehicles were headed in the direction of Gaborone. The traffic was so bad that at one point we had to drive at an uncomfortable 50km/h speed on a highway. It became apparent that there was a convoy of sixteen vehicles that was driving at a snail’s pace and in the process inconveniencing a multitude of other road users.

It was only after we reached Metsimotlhabe that we were able to overtake as we commenced driving on the dual carriage. Every one of my passengers was curious about this convoy of vehicles of the same make, the Run X. The occupants were jubilant, or at least pretending to be and flashing the victory sign of the BMD, a partner in the Umbrella Project. I was dismayed when I noticed that some of these fellows were from the BDF, an organization I respect and still prepared to defend where necessary.

And why on earth were these fellows, and of course a few ladies amongst them, engaging in this blatantly arrogant behaviour? Heaven only knows because regardless of them being affiliated to an intelligence outfit, this behaviour was inappropriate and unacceptable for intelligence operatives. Intelligence operatives are supposed to blend into any environment they go in to. This is why in many cases it is appropriate to use local people to get involved in such operations and in such a case, we would just regard them as fellow Bakwena and nothing else.

In any intelligence practice, arrogance never comes into play. You only want to show yourself up when you want to intimidate your opponent. For example, when the South African Bureau of State Security(BOSS) was giving us sleepless days and nights during the years of the liberation struggle in the 80’s, a certain MI operative, the late Senanoba Madisakwane, went intimidated a South African operative by closely following him and showing his presence until this bloke headed for the border. Otherwise intelligence works must remain secretive, subtle, restrained and above all covert.

This level of arraogance can only be noticed in a country where its ruling party is equally arrogant and has no regard for the rule of law and cares less about what media commentators like myself have to say in their honest opinion. I certainly would tell this nation that the Commander of BDF and of course his deputy had not authorised this operation because they are sensible men of good character and reputation. And all I can tell the Commander is that “Morena makaunyana bagago ba senya tiro (Sir, your juniors are discrediting your organisation).”

 For almost a year now, I have not been writing news for this publication. This came after we published an article that detailed a Commando operation in abseiling which was accompanied by pictures. Lt Gen Galebotswe called me and in a cordial manner expressed his misgivings about the article. In particular, he expressed that I was going to make his command role difficult if I discuss remuneration issues for soldiers in newspapers. And I respected his point of view. What it calls to now is that I must resume writing certain things I had restrained myself from voicing out about soldiers. This is critical, particularly in an election year because his principals seem to be in such great comfort in using Gelebotswe’s soldiers for clandestine political operations like the one I have just cited.

*Richard Moleofe is a retired military

  officer