Battle to block Aumane from SR’s NEC polls

MASERU – A fierce “battle” to block Tlohelang Aumane and Tjeotsane Seoka from contesting for the National Executive Committee (NEC) posts has broken out in the Socialist Revolutionaries (SR) party.

Aumane and Seoka both defected from the Alliance of Democrats (AD) ahead of last October’s general elections.

Their decision to stand in the elections has however rattled SR veterans who argue the two do not qualify to stand because they are new members.

Aumane, a former Development Planning Minister who infamously crossed the floor immediately after being sworn-in as an MP in 2017 and joined the AD from the

Democratic Congress (DC), is vying for the SR deputy leader’s position.

Last year, Aumane was at it again when he dumped the AD and joined the RFP. But when he failed to secure a ticket to stand for the RFP in the election, he packed his bags again and joined the SR.

As a result of this history, Aumane has had to fend off accusations that he is a political prostitute who is ready to hop into bed with the highest bidder.

This week, he told thepost that he is not going to back-off.

Seoka also confirmed to this newspaper that he is contesting for the position of secretary general.

This has infuriated party stalwarts who argue that the two do not meet the constitutional threshold to contest for the NEC posts.

The SR elective conference is scheduled for February 24 to 26. The term for the current committee expires next Tuesday.

The party’s spokesman, Thabo Shao, who is also vying for the post of deputy leader, said Aumane and Seoka’s candidatures will not see the light of day.

Shao said Aumane and Seoka have been members of the SR for just six months. He said the party’s constitution stipulates that anyone seeking to contest for the NEC elections should have been a member for at least 56 months.

“They have been defecting from party to party because they are not loyal, they just want to benefit personally,” Shao said.

“They defected from their parties six months ago,” he said.

“They simply do not qualify,” he said.

“Their skeleton will not succeed at all unless the conference suspends the relevant constitutional clauses.”

He said the duo is just wasting time and resources campaigning for the positions that they will not get since they do not qualify.

Aumane said some people are scared that he has managed to gather many followers and supporters in the party.

“I have been nominated by many people to go and represent them in the NEC as the deputy leader,” Aumane said.

“Who am I to refuse?” he asked.

He said the party used him as a member of the national executive committee on his arrival as if he had been elected and now it is time to serve it as an elected position holder.

“Now that the people want to vote for me, some scared people see that as a problem,” he said.

Seoka, who is a former principal secretary for the Ministry of Sports, said members from several constituencies have nominated him to stand for the secretary general’s position.

“Constituencies have a right to recommend and nominate anyone to the NEC,” Seoka said.

“Who is (Shao) to claim we will not be allowed to contest?” he said.

Candidates for the two factions stand as follows. The Shao faction:

Deputy leader is Thabo Shao, secretary general is ’Mapali Molula, deputy secretary general Moremi Matobako, treasurer is ’Masello Moleleki, chairman is Retšelisitsoe

Mosito, deputy chairman is Relebohile Mosisili, spokesman is Phakiso Moleko, deputy spokesman is Hlalefang One, publicist is Tlohelang Aumane, deputy publicist is Nthabeleng Mochotoane.

However, Shao said he is going to fight to ensure that Aumane does not stand. Aumane’s faction:

Deputy leader is Tlohelang Aumane, secretary general is Tjoetsane Seoka, deputy secretary general is Nthabeleng Mochotoane, treasurer is Thabo Shao, chairperson is

’Mapali Molula, deputy chairman is Retšelisitsoe Mosito, spokesman is Phakiso Moleko, deputy spokesperson is Relebohile Mosisili, publicist is Moremi Matobako, deputy publicist is Advocate Khotso Mohau, ordinary members are ’Masello Moleleki and Lerato Kamele.

The party leader Teboho Mojapela’s position will not be contested.

Nkheli Liphoto