Floggings: BCP sends conflicting signals?

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Tuesday December 7, 2010 00:00

 

When addressing a political rally in White City in May, the then BCP vice president, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang condemned the violation of human rights in Kgatleng.

However, in a local newspaper, Echo, last week a BCP councillor, Steve Makhura reaffirmed their support for Kgafela.  Makhura, who is also the Kgatleng council chairman, was addressing a council meeting.

In the May incident Gobotswang described the BCP as a champion of human rights, adding that this was what his party stood for.  He said what was happening in Kgatleng was against the party ideals. 

The BCP official said as a human rights activist, the Bakgatla paramount chief, Kgafela II should be held accountable for the situation in Kgatleng.  Gobotswang said what was happening in Kgatleng was an abuse of human rights, adding that action taken against members of the public by the vigilante groups was unlawful.  He expressed concern that people were being punished before they were tried in a court of law.

He added that this kind of anarchy was threatening the peace of this country. Gobtswanag said there was a Kgafela Fan Club, which he described as a zealous lot who took the law into their own hands. He likened it to the Khama Fan Club, which he said was also unleashing a reign of terror. 

Sources revealed that at the time BCP councillors in Kgatleng protested against Gobotswang's statement as they felt it was going to make them unpopular. As a result, former BCP president Gilson Saleshando and another top official, Ephraim Setshwaelo were dispatched to apologise to Kgafela. 

Makhura, on the other hand was reported to have said Kgafela's efforts were in the best interest of the community: to restore culture, peace, tranquility and discipline in the society.

Kgafela, his younger brother Mmusi and other tribesmen are facing criminal charges in connection with the public floggings. 

The newspaper reported that Makhura called on Bakgatla to wish Kgafela all the best concerning the charges. He added that the Bakgatla community should pray for Kgafela as it has always done, resulting in him being granted a 'controversial' bail. 

When contacted for comment, BCP spokesman Taolo Lucas said as a party, they have not taken a position on the developments in Kgatleng yet. 

He said Gobotswang was only expressing his concern about the developments in Kgatleng.

Lucas confirmed that Saleshando and Setshwaelo were delegated to meet with Kgafela but not to go and apologise.   He insisted that they went there to be briefed on the situation in the district.

'It is not true that they went to Kgafela to apologise, you can even ask the kgosi kgolo,' said Lucas.

He dismissed the claim that the BCP officials went to Mochudi to apologise.  'They wanted to be briefed by kgosi kgolo.'

Lucas said the two BCP officials afterwards presented a report to the executive committee.  He said the committee was still studying the report.

The BCP spokesman said as a result, they have not taken a stand about the events in Kgatleng.

As for Makhura's remarks, Lucas said he might have been talking as a tribesman and was expressing his views about what was going on.  'I can't say anything beyond that,' he said.

Lucas warned that the Kgafela case was before the courts and they would not want to pre-empt it. 

Makhura was not available for comment.

In the past, BCP youth league also endorsed Kgafela's disciplinary method of flogging.

Former BCP youth spokesperson Seabelo Thekiso said as a tribal leader, Kgafela, just like politicians, deals with the same challenges like crime. What the BCP youth league found inspiring about Kgafela's leadership is that instead of sending wayward youth to prison, he flogs them.

'Prison life is not good because it turns people into hardened criminals. BCP youth league further endorses Kgafela II's leadership style in Kgatleng and believes that his measures will assist positively in dealing with many social ills bedevilling our society,' Thekiso was previously quoted by Mmegi.