Bitter divisions rock RFP

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They also reveal how MPs who publicly claim that the party is united acknowledge deep and damaging divisions when they speak in the WhatsApp group that includes Prime Minister Sam Matekane.

Some parts of the clip stand out for their tone and the unrestrained way MPs speak about each other.

For instance, Mohopoli Monokoane, who is the Peka MP, launches a vicious attack on Minister Lebona Lephema.

Monokoane appears to be addressing his concerns about Lephema to Matekane.

He says he has problems “with the men who are always surrounding you”.

“I want to be specific about Lebona. Lebona is not here to support you. He is here to build himself so that he ousts you and becomes a leader himself,” Monokoane says in the clip, warning Matekane to be careful of Lephema.

Monokoane says the party could collapse if Matekane is not careful of Lebona’s machinations.

“I am hurt that we are here sinking like this because of Lebona. Reprimand Lebona and bring him under control. You are the only one to end this. Ntate Matekane please take control. I humble myself.”

It is not clear what triggered Monokoane’s attack on Lephema but there are indications that tensions have been simmering for months.

That much is clear from the voices of other MPs in the clip who all seem to acknowledge that there are serious divisions in the party.

The words of Thuso Makhalanyane, the Abia MP, seem to indicate that the MPs have also discussed the election of a new RFP leader and deputy.

“I am not going to stop anyone from commenting but the issue of electing the new leader is off the cards,” Makhalanyane says.

“We are not going to elect the leader and the deputy leader. I do not understand why people want to confuse by talking about electing the new leader and his deputy. We have a leader and a deputy. What kind of a party are we going to become if we allow such behaviour?”

Thaba Tseka MP, Mamello Holomo, is heard warning her colleagues to be careful what they say in the group because their conversations might be leaked to the media.

“As other members have suggested, let us not talk in here and make preparations to come and discuss the issue in a closed meeting with the sole purpose of fixing things and building our party,” Holomo says.

“We will only win when we sit down and iron out conflicts that arise in the party.”

Lekhetho Mosito, the Majoe a Litšoene MP, candidly admits that there are conflicts in the RFP.

“The fact is that the conflicts are there within us. We cannot hide that,” Mosito says.

“One cannot sleep with an open wound forever. We need a meeting, even a caucus meeting would do.”

Mosito cautioned that this “thing of pointing fingers at each other in this group will not help us with anything”.

“It is going to cause factionalism and that would mean the end of our party. A caucus should be called as soon as yesterday. Now, let us stop talking here.”

Meanwhile, the Teya-Teyaneng constituency committee has asked the RFP’s national executive committee (NEC) to take action against Monokoane for his attack on Lephema.

The committee warns the NEC to censure Makhetha Makhetha, a prominent youth leader from the Teya-Teyaneng constituency, who is heard in an audio clip accusing Lephema of dividing the constituency.

The constituency committee said it was angry that our MP’s reputation is being tarnished everywhere without valid reasons”.

“The situation has got out of hand to the extent that Peka MP made a voice clip about our MP.”

“We condemn the allegations made by the youth member against our MP. They are just aiming at tarnishing his image.”

Dada Jooma, a member of the RFP Task Team set up to deal with internal fights, told thepost that they are awaiting the national executive committee’s directive to start working on the complaints.

Jooma said the team is ready to intervene but is waiting for instructions from the leadership.

The task team was formed last month to solve the disputes that have been wreaking havoc within the party structures.