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Kgafela’s homecoming deferred

Kgafela II Kgafela II
Kgafela II

This is due to the fact that government has not been able to facilitate for his return as he had requested. Also, Kgafela is facing a power struggle in South Africa (SA) as his long-time foe Kgosi Nyalala Pilane and his other uncle Ramono Pilane are wrestling for Bogosi in the North West Province of the neighbouring country. Kgafela had wanted to install his son, Matshego Kgafela, only for the Premier to issue a certificate in the names of Nyalala. Following the ouster of Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) by the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) in October 2024, Kgafela expressed his pleasure at the turn of events and announced that he would return to Botswana in May this year.

On December 11, 2024, Kgafela virtually addressed Bakgatla who gathered in large numbers at the Mochudi Kgotla where he also announced that his son, Matshego, would be his regent in South Africa’s North West Province.

Kgafela said he was happy that he would now be able to visit Botswana before the date he announced in May 2024. At the time, he had said he would return in 2030.

Kgafela said he would visit Botswana as he is a citizen of both countries and would come in and out as he wishes.

“The intention is to return on May 21 2025 and go to the kgotla before visiting the graves of my parents and then going to my house which I left on the May 21, 2012.

“The 21st has been set by the ancestors and I can't come on any other day than May 21. Because I left the country with people baying for my blood on May 21, 2012. It has been 12 years since I left,” he said.

However, Kgafela said then that there was a condition for his return; that the new government has to make a certain law to ensure that he arrives without being bothered by anyone.

“The law must state that as the new government, they respect Kgafela as Bakgatla Kgosikgolo and not Kgosi. That law must be made between January and April 2025 and I will definitely arrive,” he said.

Kgafela further said he had written to the new government congratulating them on their victory and pleaded with them to make the law to allow for his return.

He was however confident that there would be nothing that would stop him, adding that if there were any challenges, he would postpone the return by a year as long as the day would be May 21 of the year.

According to Kgafela’s spokesperson Lebogang Maname, he will not be coming to Botswana anytime soon.

'Sadly to those who wished to see him, he won't be coming home to see and meet with his beloved morafe and nation as he had envisaged due to the usual facts. King Kgafela II wrote letters to the new government and also sent delegations to attend the inaugurations of the current president.

'He sent the other delegation also to meet with justice minister but unfortunately the government made promises which they didn't fulfill due to reasons known to them which we respect,” he said.

Maname said it is equally true that the work faced by Kgafela in South Africa needs his full attention at this moment. “We love and miss Batswana and Botswana always,” he said.

In October 2011, government derecognised Kgafela as Kgosi of the Bakgatla tribe, following the provisions of Section 15(b) of the Bogosi Act. He would in May 2012 depart to SA before a warrant of arrest was issued in his name in August 2012.

This is after he failed to show up at court in a case in which he was accused of unlawful flogging. Former president Mokgweetsi Masisi vowed during the 2019 election campaign that he wouldn't rest until Kgafela was back home.

Just before the 2019 elections, it was announced that the “government has formed a view that the de-recognition be reversed and lifted forthwith. This was done in pursuance of the provisions of Section 6 (2) of the Bogosi Act. In this regard, Government Notice No. 513 of 2011 has been revoked'.

Despite that, Kgafela never officially got his recognition back. As things stand, he remains a fugitive from justice with a warrant of arrest on his head.