Lawsuit delays Southern District full session
Tumelo Mouwane | Thursday June 15, 2017 16:11
Otlaadisa of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), was elected the deputy chairperson of Kanye Administrative Authority on May 22, while Thapelo Pelekekae of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) won the chairperson seat.
However, the council secretary nullified the elections and called for a re-run, arguing that two ex-officio members should have taken part in the elections.
Earlier this month, Justice Abednego Tafa of the Lobatse High Court reserved judgement in the matter. According to a savingram in Mmegi’s possession, the planned full session will no longer be taking place on June 19, 2017, which was due to have ended on June 27.
“Please be informed that Southern District Council full session has been postponed indefinitely. “This postponement ebbed (sic) from pending issues of Kanye Administrative Authority resultantly (sic), some committees which prepare for full council could not be convened on the set dates hence the postponement. We regret the inconvenience caused,” one Malebye wrote on behalf of council secretary, Poloko Mojalemotho.
Mmegi has learnt that on Tuesday Mojalemotho communicated the message to SDC councillors and they were advised that the savingram would be forwarded to them.
Yesterday, however, Mojalemotho denied that the full session had been postponed. “Our full council meeting has not been postponed. It will be held on Monday next week as planned.
I am driving therefore I cannot speak long on the phone,” Mojalemotho said. SDC council chairperson, Alec Seametso also insisted the session would be going ahead as planned. Meanwhile, Tafa is today expected to pass judgement in the case.
Otlaadisa approached the court as a matter of urgency in a bid to halt the Council Secretary’s move to have the elections nullified and a re-run held. The urgent application was heard on the evening of May 29, a day before the scheduled re-run.
The High Court ruled in Otlaadisa’s favour and interdicted the re-run.