BCPYL congress rivals in midnight fistfight

Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday April 28, 2015 14:32

Central police station commander, Lebalang Maniki confirmed the incident in an interview yesterday. Maniki said on Monday that one of the delegates at the BCPYL congress had reported being assaulted.

According to sources at the troubled congress, in which Tumediso ‘Chilliboy’ Rakgare emerged victorious as president, tensions had been simmering between the two camps ahead of the assault.

Rakgare was leading one camp, while his rival for presidency, Tshegofatso Raditlhokwa, led the other.

Trouble arose when Oganne Mazwigila, a loser in the secretary general position, crossed into Pelotshwaana Primary School where rival members were camped.

He was set upon immediately.

Yesterday he told Mmegi that the “encroachment” was innocent. “I never went to their camp to disturb them. When I arrived from Gaborone, I went to Pelotshwaana because I was initially told that our lobby group is camping at Pelotshwaana.

“However when I got there, I learnt that our camp was instead at Phatsimo Primary School.  When I reached Pelotshwaana, one of the guys in Rakgare’s camp asked me why I was at their venue and warned that he would soon release his dogs on me,” he said.

Mazwigila said he brushed off the threat, but soon, Omphile Kebeileng, a member of Rakgare’s camp, pounced on him.

“Omphile grabbed me by the neck and assaulted me before other people who I cannot identify, joined him. I did not retaliate but decided to engage the police,” Mazwigila said.The losing secretary general said another member of Raditlhokwa’s camp had also been a victim of intimidation.

Contacted for comment, Kebeileng said the congress had proceeded without intimidation or assault.

“Even after the elections, both camps embraced each other without any problem. So I am surprised by the story that someone was assaulted,” he said.

“I did not assault him. The police have called me to meet them later today but to be honest I did not do anything to him. I was busy attending meetings with Rakgare, preparing for the elections on the day he is claiming I assaulted him.”Mazwigila said he was willing to bury the whole matter if Kebeileng apologised to him. Meanwhile in his acceptance speech, shortly after his victory was announced on Sunday morning, Rakgare pleaded with the party youth to forgive each other for any wrongdoing leading up to the congress.“We should understand that where there is real competition there is bound to be friction, but it should not be mistaken for rivalry or breed any form of hatred,” he said.