Modenga ousted as deputy mayor

Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday February 21, 2017 15:08

Councilor Godisang Radisigo of Satellite South been sworn in as Francistown City Deputy Mayor by Francistown District Commissioner Tebogo Hlabano PIC: KEOAGLIE BONANG

Satellite South councillor, Godisang Radisigo was yesterday sworn in, replacing Modenga, who did not attend the full council meeting because of ill health. The council proceedings attracted a packed gallery which was filled by the city’s key political figures among them Francistown West legislator Ignatius Moswaane.

Modenga’s tenure as deputy mayor has often been marred by controversy and his future, as deputy mayor has been subject of intense speculation in recent days.

A motion to ditch Modenga was tabled by BDP specially nominated councillor, Andy Boatile. Boatile said that Modenga’s continuous absence from the council proceedings is greater source of worry to councillors and the Francistown community.

“The mayor has been missing many vital council proceedings and has not been able to carry out some important council duties on account of his illness. His illness has affected the smooth running of the council and it is best we oust him,” Boatile said.

Sixteen of the 24 councillors voted in favour of Boatile’s motion. It was initially thought that opposition councillors would table the motion of no confidence against Modenga.

However, BDP councillors resolved to table the motion at their caucus meeting on Sunday. Opposition councillors nominated BDP’s Itekeng ward councillor, Lesego Kwambala for the position of deputy mayor but he turned it down.

Kwambala turned them down because he could not go against the party caucus, which had already reached a consensus that Radisigo should be the deputy mayor. The BDP is the majority in the council accounting for 18 of the 24 councillors.

Although Boatile stated illness as the reason for ditching Modenga, evidence on the ground seems to suggest that the Moselewapula councillor was ditched because of recent corruption allegations linked against him.

Recently, the ousted deputy mayor was summoned to court on allegations that he has swindled one Karabo Nkwai money amounting to P45,000 under the pretext that he will use his position to assist the latter to be allocated two plots. The ousted deputy mayor is also subject of a corruption investigation by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC).

Last week the BDP also urged Modenga to resign as deputy mayor in order to clear his name and expressed worry that the negative publicity is tarnishing the image of the party.

Yesterday, BDP secretary general, Botsalo Ntuane said that the party welcomes the decision of the councillors to oust Modenga.

“We endorse the motion tabled and passed by the BDP caucus and the manner in which it was formulated. It need to be noted that as a party we are not throwing Modenga under the bus but rather wish to give him space to attend his personal affairs,” Ntuane said.