Guma accused of dividing the BDP in Tlokweng
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday May 20, 2016 15:18
This made some branch members to refuse to release the money to the teams that had won the tournament that was held on May 1-2 in Tlokweng.
The decision to hold the tournament came after the branch approached Tati West MP Samson Moyo Guma who doubles as the shadow MP for Tlokweng constituency to fund them on activities that could bring them together as democrats. The teams that are not paid include Split FC, which is owed P2,500, Ikgalemele FC P1,500 and Thakadu FC P 1,000. Mmegi has learnt that the branch held a meeting this week without the secretary and two others.
On May 3 the branch secretary wrote a letter to the BDP complaining about Guma’s interference in their committee.
In his letter, Kgaswane said: “This communiqué serves as a complaint against Honourable Guma Moyo, in which he interfered with the proceedings of the Tlokweng branch committee by sabotaging the football tournament. The football tournament was hosted on the 1st and 2nd May 2016, with the aim of recruiting the youth of Tlokweng into the BDP. The tournament was able to recruit 72 new members in the BDP.”
Kgaswane said Guma had promised to sponsor the tournament with P10,000 but he had withdrawn his sponsorship while the tournament was midway through.
“This has put the party image at stake because the team finalists have not been paid their prices. Moreover, Guma has interfered in the branch committee proceedings by dividing the branch members including the branch chairperson as a way of talking to them not to support the football tournament,” the letter says.
The branch secretary said he acted because the branch committee had taken a resolution that the tournament should proceed, but some members changed after Moyo decided not to support the tournament. In his letter, he said Guma has no right to act against the branch resolution. “It is also important to note that I have appealed to the regional committee and they advised that I appeal to the central committee.
“Therefore I recommend that Honourable Moyo should be called to order. Furthermore it’s a request that the central committee should instruct Moyo to honour his tournament sponsorship,” he said.
For his part, Guma said he is not aware of the complaint. “It’s true that the Tlokweng branch has approached me to sponsor them for activities that could help them to come together as democrats and the football tournament was one of it. I know they then started preparing for it, but they later changed the dates. I had given them the money, which they had requested. It should be clear that the BDP had assigned me to inform BDP members in Tlokweng about what is happening in regards to Parliament issues and not to be involved in the day-to-day running of BDP activities. I don’t even sit on their branch. I was simply helping because they had requested for help,” Guma said.
Guma said there is no way he could divide the branch when he is not involved in their party activities.
“It’s best for the branch to discuss the matter and resolve it without mentioning my name. My role was to give them money which I did and the rest is theirs,” he said.
Kgaswane confirmed that he had written to the party central committee and he understands the issue has been referred back to them to resolve it. “I cannot discuss this issue with the media. I think it’s best to talk to the person who decided to give you a copy of the letter,” he said.
The branch chairperson Jane Bogatsu said: “I don’t discuss party issues with the media. I am not even aware of the letter you are talking about. Again I don’t know why those teams would rush to the media when they want to be paid,” she said.
Captain of Thakadu FC, Maatla Segokgo said, “We are still waiting for our money from the BDP. The party is not giving us feedback about our payment and if they take months without paying then the team will consider taking action.”
For his part, the founder of Ikgamele FC Otsile Matetshwane said: “We understand they are having their own in-fights and that is why our payment is delayed.”