UBSRC suspends its president
Sharon Mathala | Wednesday June 24, 2015 15:27
An urgent meeting was held on Friday to deliberate on the issue, where the disgruntled team resolved to suspend their president.
Speaking at a press conference held yesterday, in the presence of the suspended Kgosiekae, SRC Vice President, Rearabilwe Ramaphane said the suspension was in connection with Kgosiekae’s suspension of the Secretary General and Admin Secretary General, which they felt was dubious and uncalled for. The two officials are aligned to the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), while Kgosiekae is a member of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
Ramphane claimed that SRC members were previously unaware that Kgosiekae had suspended the two members.
“We heard from the students and we met up with the two who also brought their letters of suspension. After carefully assessing their grievances, together with the chaos that has been happening internally in the SRC, we decided to suspend Kgosiekae pending his disciplinary hearing. The dates will be communicated to him by June 30,” he said.
UBSRC information and publicity minister, Leak Mallet Seboko said Kgosiekae had undermined the council’s resolutions. He also said that it appeared that the SRC president favoured BDP members.
The current UBSRC is comprised of 11 UDC members and two BDP members, all of who have only been in office for three months.
Seboko said that Kgosiekae’s seat would remain vacant until the disciplinary process is completed.
Speaking to Mmegi later, an unfazed Kgosiekae said the suspension was water off a duck’s back for him.
“The suspension they have been preaching about is null and void. I have done nothing wrong. I had summoned the suspended members to my office but they did not show up. The only step left was to suspend them for their misconduct,” he said.
Kgosiekae added that the UBSRC could not use his powers as an excuse to suspend him.
“I will continue to be in office. There is nothing that has been brought before me that is justifiable,” he said.
Earlier this year, the previous Council dragged its management to court for trying to ban party politics at the university.