Boatile retains BDP youth chair
Chakalisa Dube | Monday February 9, 2015 16:00
The fresh-faced Boatile made history by becoming the first youth wing leader to retain his position.
Boatile defeated business man Thabo Autlwetse and Mpho Setuke who was considered a dark horse at the elections. Boatile managed 212 votes while his closest rival Autlwetse could only attract 140 voters. A paltry 51 voters went for Setuke, with three votes being spoiled.
Boatile’s win was unexpected as many pundits indicated that he had failed on his mandate and has to pave way for a new person to lead the youth wing.
Even the mood on the ground at the elections made strong suggestions that Boatile will lose to Autlwetse.
In the position of secretary Simon Moabi who belonged to Boatile’s team won by 231 votes against Lesego Kwambala’s 111.
Another constituency from Mogoditshane also boycotted elections though there were no reasons advanced for their boycott it was said the constituency pulled out after Autlwetse had lost.
Setuke and Autletse’s teams pulled out from contesting other positions leaving Boatile to be elected unopposed.
The position of Vice Chairperson went to Khumo Lekoko while One Lekau got the position of vice secretary. Goitse Phorie was voted Information officer while the position of treasure went to Tuelo Motsewabeng. Kudzani Tobokani was voted political officer.
The elections were not without controversy; one of the candidates for the chairman Jerry Chiduke went missing just before the election nominations started. Unconfirmed reports said that law enforcement officers arrested Chiduke, who was standing as an independent candidate, around lunchtime.
Moments after Chiduke had left his Gantsi North and South constituencies who backed him decided to boycott the elections. The two teams also packed their bacgs and left the congress alleging that Chiduke had been set up.
“ We are worried about the timing of the incidents (arrest). He was set up by his rivals. Re ya go gorogela ko UDC (we are going join BMD when we arrive in Gantsi),”one of the delegates in the two teams said as they were packing their bags near their mini bus. Giving his acceptance speech Boatile stated that his main mandate during his two year term will be to focus on economic empowerment of the party youth.