Gaolathe And Co. To Be Charged
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday May 29, 2017 18:00
The Monitor has learnt that the members, chief amongst them party president, Ndaba Gaolathe are expected to receive about three charges from the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The charges are likely to range from violating the decision taken by national working committee (NWC) by continuing to hold BMD youth congress at Ramotswa despite it having been postponed and attending an “illegal” meeting not sanctioned by any party structure.
The NEC met on Saturday and made a recommendation to the disciplinary committee to charge the suspend members. In addition to Gaolathe, the six other suspended members are vice president, Wynter Mmolotsi, women’s league president, Joyce Mothudi, former youth league president, Phenyo Segokgo and three others.
“It is true the NEC met on Saturday and re-visited the issue concerning the suspended members. Their issue is handled by disciplinary committee.
That structure is there and it will be the one charging them with offences they are facing. I don’t know the charges, but I understand they will be served with charges this week according to the committee,” BMD secretary general, Gilbert Mangole said yesterday in an interview.
He continued; “it’s not true that NEC has appointed the acting president and his vice. Our constitution does not have that provision to allow for acting when one is suspended.
It only allows it when one is dead or had left the party. The NEC does not have the power to expel any member. That alone should be clear. The members are the only ones who could do that at the congress”.
However last week, Mmolotsi told the members who had attended their gathering at Letlhabile school hall that the BMD does not have a disciplinary committee and appeals board. It is yet to be seen whether the committee was appointed by the NEC recently or not.
The BMD is torn between powerful factions - the Gaolathe/Mmolotsi one and the Mangole/Nehemiah Modubule.
The party is supposed to hold its elective congress during the President Holidays in July. Political analysts have opined that this will be litmus test for the young political party, which was and remains key in the opposition coalition of the Umbrella for Democratic Change.