Does Ruretse belong to the BaTlokwa? What history can tell us

A 1914 map of Gaberones Block
A 1914 map of Gaberones Block

First a disclaimer. My wife and I live on and own a plot in an area that has come to be known as Ruretse.The name for this plot and all the others surrounding and including the 'Khama farm' are actually registered as portions of 'Kenmoir'.

After Botswana’s first president Sir Seretse Khama and his wife Ruth purchased Kenmoir, it became popularly known as Ruth and Seretse’s farm, ‘Ruretse’ for short.

It has become a habit of late for some living in Tlokweng to claim that the Khama family took Tlokwa land and are now bound to return it to the Batlokwa.  The question is, on what basis do the Batlokwa have a claim to this farm and the 107 freehold 4-hectare plots created in 1987 that form its perimeter?  This is a question that interests me not only as a Ruretse resident (and permanent resident of Botswana…I am an American citizen), but because for many years I have carried out historical research on Batswana both in Botswana and South Africa.  You may sample some of my writing on https://ub-bw.academia.edu/FredMorton.

Editor's Comment
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