This comes after the councillors toppled PDC chairperson Kabo Ketshogile with a motion of no confidence and voted in David Ikanyeng as their preferred chairperson. Ketshogile is the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) councillor, whilst Ikanyeng is the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) councillor. The suspension, announced on Friday, followed a protracted dispute within the council over leadership and governance issues. The conflict reached a climax when councillors proceeded with efforts to remove the council chairperson despite warnings from the ministry and allegations that the process did not comply with the procedures prescribed by law. The development prompted Motshegwa to visit Palapye in person last Friday to address councillors amid escalating tensions. Following the meeting, the minister decided to suspend both the council and all its committees, citing governance failures and the need to restore stability. In a statement, Motshegwa said the intervention was necessary because the council had failed to carry out its statutory duties effectively.
"The suspension follows the council's failure to effectively discharge its statutory responsibilities and uphold the standards of governance expected of it. The Minister's intervention forms part of ongoing efforts to restore order, strengthen good governance, and ensure that the council operates in the best interests of the people it serves," he said.
