BDP fight for Mogoditshane spills into the open
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday November 30, 2017 18:48
Tshepang Mabaila, the youthful, prominent former civil servant who has made a mark in the area through his foundation, was attempting to conduct the handover of the toilet to constituents.
Invited guests, who included officials from the Office of the President (OP), dikgosi and BDP communications chairperson, Fish Pabalinga were left embarrassed when one of the party’s councillors, Pitso Sekao blocked the handover saying the Tshepang Mabaila Foundation had not contributed any money to the toilets.
Sekao, the Mogoditshane East councillor, disrupted the proceedings as he requested to speak before the person who was supposed to thank Mogoditshane residents.
“Lo tla intshwarela kgosi le morafe ke kopa go bua nnete eseng sepe gape. Mabaila Foundation ga e a aga toilet ya ga MmaGrace. Eo e agilwe ke nna ka madi ame mo pateng yame. Le ka ya ko dijarateng tse dingwe le ko kgoteng e nngwe e seng kwa ga MmaGrace. A seka a leka go ipapatsa ka dilo tse a sa di dirang,” Sekao fumed.
Sekao accused Mabaila of using his Foundation to turn voters his way in the race for the BDP’s upcoming primaries. However, MmaGrace’s eldest daughter Mmatlala Sello did not take the issue lying down.
“I am shocked that Sekao has said this in front of people. Truly speaking, the Mabaila Foundation, Sekao and I played a role in this project.
'I don’t see why it cannot be handed over. The toilet was first made as pit latrine, but Mabaila Foundation converted it to a flush toilet. Sekao bought plumbing materials only,” she said.
For his part, Mabaila said he had been helping residents of Mogoditshane and would not be stopped by people who have “their political issues”.
“I will campaign openly without hiding, when the time is right. There is no one who will stop me from doing my Foundation projects. I helped to build the toilet because there was need and I cannot drag that family into this mess,” Mabaila said.
The BDP primaries for Mogoditshane are expected to feature Mabaila, Kgang Kgang and Patrick Masimolole.