Bulela Ditswe appeals swamp BDP
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday September 21, 2018 18:00
The constitution demands that any appeal lodged shall be attended to within seven days of their being tendered, and a decision be reached within 30 days.
The constitution also gives any person who is not happy with the decision of the regional committee to appeal to the central committee within seven days of the decision of the regional committee being made known.
The region is also forced to inform the appellants about any decisions they do take. So far two regions have referred two appeals from Cabinet ministers to the party central committee to take decision on the matter.
Kgalagadi North
The region has referred the case to the party central committee because the region did not understand the party’s decided to include 400 names, which party structures in that constituency had written that those names be removed.
Assistant Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Itumeleng Moipisi lost to Talita Monnakgotla who garnered 2,139 votes against Moipisi’s 1,696. Moipisi’s appeal was referred to the central committee on that basis. The Western region’s Keorapetse Ralohika confirmed the decision.
Ghanzi South
The Western region ordered a rerun in Ghanzi South constituency. It arrived to its conclusion of a rerun after it learnt that some names of other candidates were not displayed during the primary elections.
The matter, according to the chairperson, was reported even to structures on the day of elections. Thato Tshwenenyagae who was battling it out with David Sethatho, Raymond Molatole and Edward Stanley won the elections.
Kanye North
Southwest region referred an appeal by Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Patrick Ralotsia to the party central committee because the region’s chairperson, Kenalemongwe Mopipi, was one of the contestants and they do not want to be seen to be influencing any decision.
The region says the central committee is best placed to take a decision on the matter. Ralotsia lost to businessman, Thapelo Letsholo who got 1,878 votes and Ralotsia had 1,398 votes. South West region chairperson, Mopipi confirmed this.
Lobatse
The region has summoned the appellants to give evidence to some of the allegation they pointed out in their appeals.
The appellants are complaining that the voters’ roll in some other polling station had increased numbers, for example at Newlook/Mapipei where they signed the roll with 260 names but during on election day, they realised that the number increased by 37.
At Woodhall they complained that one of the ballot papers, which was sealed and wrapped on the morning of August 25, was found open and separated.
Thapelo Matsheka, who garnered 1,376 votes, contested for the election for the BDP parliamentary candidate.
The incumbent, Lobatse legislator Sadique Kebonang lost with 1,073 votes, Kamal Jacobs with 1,219 votes, Lone Bome got 66 votes, Patrick Kebailele had 218 and Ahmed Shabeer Ishmail had 317 votes. Jacobs and Kebaile have since protested and will appear before the region committee on Wednesday next week.
Southern region chairperson, Selefha Ditshwane confirmed this.
Mmathethe/Molapowabojwang
There is no appeal from the current MP, Alfred Madigele and only councillors had appealed.
Tati West constituency
The North East region will on Saturday hear an appeal from Assistant Minister of Health and Wellness, Biggie Butale. It is understood that the appellant is challenging some irregularities that might have happened during election time.
Some of the things that Butale is alleged to be challenging according to a source is failure to count ballots and releasing results only at the counting centre. The appeal says there was rigging as some election officers wrote the opposite of what voters who were illiterate wanted.
Selebi Phikwe East
The BOMASE region had taken a resolution regarding Selebi-Phikwe East, which they cannot disclose at the moment. The region chairperson, Kgomotso Mmereki said only Mmadinare and Bobonong constituency appeals are still outstanding. BOMASE region met over the weekend. Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Nonofo Molefhi lost against Amogelang Mojuta. Mojuta gained 1,306 votes against Molefhi’s 1,125.
“I cannot share the outcome of Selebi-Phikwe East because we have to write to the concerned members first,” he said.
However, Molefhi got shocked that the decision has already been taken regarding his constituency. “The region had requested me to bring evidence to support my case when we appeared before them over the weekend and I asked to be given three days to submit it.
How can the decision be reached before I submit my evidence?” Molefhi asked. Minister of Defence, Justice and Security Shaw Kgathi lost Francisco Kgoboko at Bobonong constituency and Kefentse Mzwinila lost Mmadinare constituency.