Shirley Segokgo Shocks BDP
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday April 24, 2017 15:16
Her resurfacing back to politics after 13 years break is likely to bring divisions in Tlokweng for her party.
Shirley’s application and symbol to contest as independent candidate was approved by Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on April 20. Tlokweng by-election will be held on May 13 and she is left with only three weeks to campaign.
His young brother, Thulaganyo Segokgo contested against Elijah Katse in the BDP primaries and lost, which some view as a protest.
Thulaganyo had accepted the results and he is one of the campaign managers for Katse.
“This came as a shock to us. Shirley has not been active in the BDP because he was working at Land Board. I don’t know if she has resigned from the BDP. I don’t think her campaigns will affect us that much.
But the party will have to discuss about it and find out how it affects us. We learnt about her intention to contest on Friday, the day IEC approved her symbol,” Katse’s campaign manager, Motshereganyi Sefanyetso said.
BDP deputy secretary general, Shaw Kgathi said he was not aware that Segokgo would contest as an independent candidate and that she resigned from the party.
The Monitor has learnt that some of the people who might had encouraged Shirley to stand were those who believed that Katse and other BDP members who were suspended in the party de-campaigned them in 2014.
“Shirley is going to split votes in the BDP.
Those who were sympathising with his brother are may vote for her and even those who are angry with Katse contesting will vote for her.
Again the Segokgo family votes will be split as some will go to Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and others to her,” a source said. Segokgo and the UDC candidate, Masego Segokgo are distant cousins.
Her symbol shows a woman carrying a baby.