There has been disquiet in some quarters that Pilane, who is one of the leaders of BMD, a party that was formed on the platform of republicanism and protection of the rights of the minority rights chose to represent Bakgatla chief and a group of village vigilante who are alleged to have caused terror on some defenceless citizens. It was feared that, Pilane, as the face of the party that styles itself as the embodiment of rights, might be perceived as BMD's tolerance of extra judicial floggings.
Pilane has however defended his professional decision to defend Kgosi Kgafela and the other accused saying they have a right to legal representation of their choice. He stated that he sees nothing wrong in being spokesman for the new party and at the same time representing the Kgosikgolo because he is not BMD and not everything he does represents the party. "I am Sidney Pilane. I am not BMD. I have a separate life from BMD and it is not everything I do that I do on behalf of BMD," he said yesterday in an interview.
