BCP youth bash leadership

GREG KELEBONYE & EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writers | Tuesday August 24, 2010 00:00

 

Addressing a press conference yesterday BCPYL president, Lotty Manyapetsa and secretary general, Thato Osupile said they have only received support from about 10 members of the party. Others just condemned them, calling them spoilers bent on denting the party image, they said.

'It was our lawyer lawyer Dick Bayford, then vice-president Kesitegile Gobotswang, Pabalelo Mabeo and a handful of others who stood by us. One prominent BCP member even called me late at night after seeing the news on Btv that we stormed the (Btv) building and said 'comrade gatwe o a bo o dirile eng, re batla go tsaa puso, wena jaanong o ira jang?' said Manyapetsa.

He said that they did not storm the building as the Btv management claimed, but had gone to talk with them.Manyapetsa said it was quite discouraging that as they were trying to represent the party in a peaceful manner, putting their lives on the line, 'a lot of people among us in the BCP did not support us and instead rebuked us. However we are thankful to the private media for sticking to the truth and revealing a balanced story on the issue,' he said.

Manyapetsa also told the press conference that the state has since withdrawn the case against them, citing lack of evidence.

At the same meeting Osupile said BCP members 'should stand up and fight for social justice and support their leaders, especially in a just cause like the one we embarked on last year. As our followers we expect you to give us support and not abandon us,' he said.

Meanwhile the youth leader said they are contemplating suing the officers who made allegations against them. Manyapetsa said that they would soon formulate charge - possibly of defamation.

'Much falsity was said about us. At one point the then Communications Minister Pelonomi Venson accused us on Btv of breaking things at the station when that was not the case,' he said.

'[We] have gone through persecutions as a result of malicious prosecution by the state. There were instances where even some within the BCP believed [the] false accusations, which was disheartening]' he said.

'Our lawyers will be advising us on the way forward, but we surely are considering action against the people, all of whom are government or Btv employees,' said Manyapetsa. Mmegi is in possession of names of at least two Btv employees that Manyapetsa believes should face the music.

Meanwhile journalists at the meeting were told that Osupile, who is also BCP administration secretary, was resigning from the secretary general's post, whilst publicity chief Seabelo Thekiso and BCPYL vice-president Lorato Tsogwane are also resigning their posts. The trio, according to Oarabile Motlaleng, who has subsequently taken up the post of secretary general, are held up by other engagements hence 'they decided that they cannot continue with their posts in the BCPYL central committee,' said Motlaleng.

Tsogwane has been replaced by Leungo Mathaio, whilst publicity chief is now Olebile Sikwane.