Documents seen by The Telegraph suggest that the suspension of scores of Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) members by its leadership over an alleged wage theft controversy may lead to its implosion amid reports that a rival union is luring some members into its fold.
The documents show that BOPEU is caught up between implosion and refoundation as management is under pressure from disgruntled members who are calling on the Union to stop authorizing the government to deduct P70 from the more than 37000 members. The result is that this has led to the management issuing conflicting messages.
The acting secretary general of BOPEU, Karabo Ketlhapeleng, appears to have riled members after he wrote letters in which he fell short of calling the disgruntled members’ bluff.
In his letter dated 16 February 2023, Ketlhapeleng Karabo stated that; “Your request is noted.”
He added that; “We however seek to enquire from you if the union must also stop the Group Funeral Scheme (GFS) which is the same package with the Group Life Insurance.”
“Kindly provide the requested clarity in order to enable us to implement your instruction,” said Ketlhapeleng. Members accuse BOPEU of instructing the government payroll to deduct P70 from each member (about P2.7 million per a month) for the Group Life Assurance policy.
Curiously even before the ink on his own letter could relatively dry, Ketlhapeleng wrote another letter in a conciliatory tone, almost climbing down on his earlier non-negotiable position.
In a letter dated 2nd March, now in his capacity as the deputy secretary general Karabo Ketlhapeleng, he states that, “Kindly be informed that your appeal is being looked into, and the office will revert to you in due course.”
He added that the “Office is working around the clock to give an expedited response to you.”
Ketlhapeleng’s letter dated 2nd March is in stark contrast to his previous letter dated 16 February warning the concerned members that they risk losing their other benefits if they insisted on calling on the Union to stop deductions.
But the same day that Ketlhapileng wrote the letter in an effort to pacify disgruntled members, the acting BOPEU President Mothusi Mojela appeared to reverse his colleague’s efforts as he issued a string of suspension letters.
In a letter dated 2nd March 2022, Mojela informed some members that the National Executive Committee (NEC) has in terms of article 47.2 of the Botswana Public Employees Union Constitution received allegations that they “might have conducted yourself in a manner that constitutes a serious misconduct by engaging in acts that works (sic) against the spirit of the union and or puts its name and leadership in disrepute.”
Mojela said given the seriousness of these allegations, the NEC resolved that disciplinary process be instituted against you in terms of article 47.3.
“Having regard to the interest of the union, he had thus evoked article 47.7 of constitution to suspend the members from the union and all its activities effective immediately pending the finalization of the matter,” he said.
He concluded thus; “I hereby communicate that decision and that of the NEC. During your suspension; you shall not hold yourself as an official of BOPEU and or its representative in any forum; you shall not address the media or any other gathering on any matter relating to BOPEU.”
“You are prohibited to access the union office wherever they are located without prior arrangement with the BOPEU President.”
Immediate comment from Mojela was not available.
For his part, Botswana Public Parastatatals and Private Sector Alliance Workers Union secretary general Kaboyaneone Sedimo distanced his newly formed union from the crisis bedeviling BOPEU. He indicated that complaints raised by members was behind the motive to suspend concerned members by BOPEU’s leadership. He said a considerable number of BOPEU members facing suspension were not linked to his union.
In their petition, a copy of which has been seen by The Telegraph the concerned members indicated that; “It has come to our attention that you have instructed Government Payroll to deduct funds amounting to seventy pula (P70) from our salaries without our consent.”
The petition adds that; “We have never signed any documents to that effect, which clearly means we have not purchased the above-mentioned policy as per the dictates of Non-Banking Financial Institution Regulatory Authority (NBFIRA) policy holder protection rules.” The petitioners said since they had not consented in any way with the “above mentioned deduction, please note that we demand that you stop instructing Government Payroll from performing such deductions on your behalf.”
The Union members also stated that: “Kindly note that we demand that you refund us all the monies you received with immediate effect.” “We would gladly appreciate a response from your honorable office within 5 days of receipt of this correspondence, believing this will not pressure us to sour our long-standing harmonious relationship,” they said.
In a previous interview with The Telegraph, Karabo said the Union negotiates different packages and schemes for its members and negotiates on the basis of its numeral strength in order to secure discounts and less interest rates for members. “These schemes include but not limited to the following; Group Life Assurance (GLA); Group Funeral Scheme (GFS); Property Insurance; Funeral and burial packages; Personal loans at selected banks; Building materials scheme; Airtime etc,” he said.
He said, “In our earnest and considered view, the Group Life Assurance was a scheme negotiated for the sole benefit of members and their immediate family members, and not for the benefit of the Union.”
