Recently, Mmegi’s sister publication, The Monitor, published an article in which the BDP councillor for Medie/Kweneng ward, Edward Swanekani, allegedly landed in hot soup after he defiled a 17-year-old girl. The Monitor also said Swanekani (37) had already appeared before the Molepolole Magistrate's Court in relation to the charge. In an interview with Mmegi recently, the secretary-general (SG) of the BDP, Mpho Balopi said if it is indeed true that Swanekani has been charged with defilement, the party cannot act on the issue until it receives formal communication from its lower structures in Kweneng detailing the allegation.
Balopi also added that the BDP does not rely on media allegations to take action against members holding positions within its various structures unless there is formal correspondence to such allegations from its structures. “I have not received any formal correspondence from our structures in Kweneng about the matter you are asking me about hence I am constrained to talk about it. If such allegation really exists, our structures in Kweneng will formally notify us at Tsholetsa House or the Central Committee and we will thereafter see what action we may take against the concerned councillor,” said Balopi.
