Come home brother, Mmusi pleads with Kgafela
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday February 1, 2022 06:00
Speaking at their mother’s funeral on Saturday, Mmusi said he was saddened by the fact that his brother was not in attendance as their mother was laid to rest owing to a warrant of arrest.
As dozens of senior government officials, dikgosi and members of the public braved the rainy morning to bid Bakgatla Ba Kgafela Queen Mother Kathleen Kgafela farewell, her son Kgafela was nowhere to be seen.
Kgafela left Botswana in 2012 and has a warrant of arrest for flogging cases. Her other son Bakgatle Kgafela, who had arrived from the United States, tested positive for COVID-19 and had to isolate and not mingle with the crowds.
A distraught Mmusi pleaded with his brother to come home after a eulogy of their mother stating that the warrant of arrest should not keep him away. He was saddened that his brother was not there to lead them as their mother was laid to rest. “I am grieving at this moment. I knew the moment would come when our mother would rest and we have to say goodbye to her. And I have been wondering whether my brother would be able to come say his goodbyes. I also know that he knew that this day would come as time went by,” he said.
“I wondered why we are still not together since 2012 up to now. I think with this funeral, we should introspect and go to the crossroads. I know my brother, where you are, you are concerned about the warrant of arrest in your name. You and I my brother have dealt with warrants of arrest before as lawyers. It is not the first warrant of arrest.”
Mmusi added they once had a warrant issued in their names while they were in Gauteng, South Africa (SA) and they dealt with it amicably.
“My brother you will remember, there were issues already and we had gone to consult our advocates in SA. We had agreed with (the Directorate of Public Prosecutions) DPP that they allow time to consult our advocates and we missed a court mention. We were midway consultations when we were told that the Magistrate had issued a warrant of arrest. We went straight back to have the warrant discharged and we went ahead with the other plans of the day,” he said.
He called to his brother to remember the warrant of their arrest saying they could also deal with the current one in the same way.
Mmusi further said there was nothing he or President Mokgweetsi Masisi could do even as members of the Executive.
“I have been asked many times as to why I do not, as a member of the Executive, make sure that the issue is resolved. I wish to do anything that can be done, but I am restricted by the law. The President also wishes to do what he can, but he is also restricted by the law. The President appoints the Director of Public Prosecutions who has the powers to prosecute or even withdraw a case. He is not controlled by anyone. That is why the President cannot do anything about the issue,” he said.
Mmusi said his mother would have loved that they are together when laying her to rest. He said it was tough for her as she had to travel to South Africa regularly to visit her son. He said while in hospital, they made a video call to Kgafela to see his mother. He said they were both smiling and he could tell that she really missed him.