MURDERED ON HIS WEDDING NIGHT
Bride arrested in connection with groom’s death
WHAT was meant to be a wedding celebration in Lotlhakane village turned into mourning over the Easter holidays as the groom, Moagi Mhateng, was murdered and his wife, Gladys Ramotsumi, arrested as the suspected killer.
The incident occurred a night before the couple’s second wedding scheduled for the groom’s home.
The bride was arraigned on Tuesday before Lobatse Magistrates’ Court and plea was reserved.
The court heard that on April 2nd at Pitikwe ward in Lobatse, Ramotsumi allegedly murdered her newlywed husband following an argument over money.
It is alleged that prior to the incident, Ramotsumi had opened an assault case against her husband at the police station.
The standoff between management and the Board turned into a dramatic fracas when the defiant MD and the company Secretary, Sipho Showa, hired heavy security to bar board members from entering the bank.
When The Voice crew went to BBS in Broadhurst to investigate, heavy security and escort blocked the doorway.
“We have been directed not to allow anyone except for staff entry,” the security said as they sent The Voice crew away.
Speaking in an interview from the fourth floor where he and the MD were located at the time, Showa confirmed the presence of backup security.
“Indeed the MD engaged heavy security at the office to bar any of the board members access. We wanted the business of the company to continue without any complications by the board members,” said Showa.
Asked why they haven’t complied with the board’s orders to leave, Showa explained that the resolution to fire the two of them was not only taken for selfish reasons but it was also unlawful and therefore null and void.
“The MD has notified the board of our decision not to vacate office and the reasons why, so if they have anything against us continuing to work here, the onus is on them, not us, to seek legal intervention. Meanwhile, we shall continue to act in the best interest of the shareholders and all the banks’ affiliates until the 30th of this month when the Annual General Meeting will be held and a way forward is reached,” Showa said.
The dispute between Molefe, who sits on the board as the Executive Director, and the rest of the board who are non-executive directors, relates to the nomination of candidates for the board, when the current board members’ tenure comes to an end on April 26th, 2021.
BBS will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the 30th of this month during which the election of board members will form part of the agenda.
The board, Showa explained, unlawfully fired the MD after he refused to comply with their demand not to accept new names for possible nomination to the board at the upcoming AGM. The five board members also wanted to extend their tenure by 90 days.
“It was on this bases that the board, led by Pelani Siwawa-ndai, purported to dismiss the MD and the Company Secretary, Sipho Showa, from work on Tuesday afternoon.
“Our attorneys advised us that the dismissals are unlawful. The attorneys further advised us to continue reporting to work ,” Molefe has said in a statement to the shareholders.
Molefe also expressed regret that these actions have led to the suspension of trading of BBS securities on the stock market, adding he was concerned by potential harmful actions on the business.
The MD appealed to the shareholders to make an objective intervention at the AGM regarding the board elections and make a correct governance decision.
Apart from halting the trading of BBS equity securities listed on the BSE Serala Over-the -Counter (OTC) Board on Wednesday, the BSEL Chief Executive Officer, Thapelo Tsheole, also suspended trading of BBS debt securities BBS005 listed on the BSE Corporate Bonds Board.
Tsheole explained the reason for the suspension of trading of BBS securities was to allow BBS, which aspires to become the first homegrown commercial bank, to provide clarity to the market concerning the recent allegations which have been brought to the attention of the BSE in the squabble relating to the board of directors and senior management.