Keobiditse Evelyn Bitsa Lenkopane was born on 29 September 1975 and is a South African politician who has represented the African National Congress in the North West Provincial Legislature since 2019.
13 Facts About Bitsa Lenkopane
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Bitsa Lenkopane was a political ally of former North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo.
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Bitsa Lenkopane was sentenced to pay a fine of R5,000 or serve six months' imprisonment but her sentence was suspended for three years.
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Bitsa Lenkopane's election took place under controversial circumstances; critics, including Mmoloki Cwaile, alleged that Supra Mahumapelo had interfered in the electoral process to prevent his opponents from participating.
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Almost a year after her removal as mayor, in May 2019, Bitsa Lenkopane was charged in the Ganyesa Magistrate's Court in relation to her conduct while mayor.
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Bitsa Lenkopane was accused of using a municipal vehicle without authorisation; while using the vehicle in 2018, she had reportedly been involved in a car accident in which her domestic worker died.
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Bitsa Lenkopane stood in a candidate in the 2019 general election, ranked 11th on the ANC's provincial party list for the North West.
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Bitsa Lenkopane nonetheless remained on the ANC's list and was elected as a Member of the North West Provincial Legislature.
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Later that year, Bitsa Lenkopane faced internal disciplinary charges again when she and Mahumapelo were accused of sowing division in the party.
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Bitsa Lenkopane said that she would appeal the decision, and in September 2021 the decision was overturned by the disciplinary committee of the national ANC, chaired by Nocawe Mafu.
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In January 2022, the Provincial Secretary of the ANC Women's League in the North West, Bridgette Tlhomelang, was suspended from her office pending an investigation into fraud allegations; Bitsa Lenkopane became acting Provincial Secretary.
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Bitsa Lenkopane's appointment was opposed by critics who claimed that she had a factional agenda and was aligned to Lindiwe Sisulu and other so-called "RET forces".
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Less than a fortnight later, at the ANC's provincial elective conference, Bitsa Lenkopane was nominated to stand for election as Deputy Provincial Secretary of the mainstream ANC in the North West, running against Viola Motsumi and Motlalepula Rosho.