Storm clouds gather for BOPEU's May Day celebrations

President Mokgweetsi Masisi is billed to address about 36,000-strong BOPEU members alongside his opposite number, Leader of Opposition in Parliament and Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) president, Duma Boko and other invited dignitaries on May 1, 2019. The stealth battle for the soul of the single and most powerful trade union has been a low-key affair until recently when some of the backers of the deposed former BOPEU leader, Andrew Motsamai waged a strong comeback war.

To those in the know, the latest manifestations of trouble within the BOPEU structures are in fact the culmination of a comeback bid by the staunch supporters of Motsamai. Although BOPEU leadership emerged from a tumultuous congress in Kasane last year convinced that after taxing court battles, peace had finally returned to the trade union led by Masego Mogwera, it seems more trouble is on the cards.