Intrigued, I asked in the Monitor of the 12th for more information about four of these facts and in respect of the Bangwaketse initiative asked, how the scheme was financed, how it was administered and what kinds of health services were included? In Mmegi of, I think, the 18th which I picked up from the internet, Ramsay helpfully replied in an article headlined, ‘Yes, Merriweather and Bathoen II delivered health for all’. I quote. ‘The service began when the then Regent Ntebogang (1924-28) supported the Seven Day Adventist (SDA, Sabata) church in establishing a medical mission in Kanye, which was expanded under her successor Kgosi Bathoen II.
In this context, as Isaac Schapera observed in his book “Tribal Innovators” (Athlone, 1970): “In 1929 the Seventh Day Adventist medical mission agreed with Bathoen II that in return for a monthly subsidy (of 50 pounds sterling) it would supply the people with free medicines and treatment. To meet the cost, Bathoen imposed a tribal levy of 2s (shillings) per taxpayer. Some of his people objected.” A quick check with “Tribal Innovators” showed that there was an additional sentence which Ramsay had omitted.
