Battle for Kang bogosi resurfaces
Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday August 11, 2025 10:43
Seipone is the third eldest daughter of the late Kgosi Church Seipone, who passed on in 2010 after leading his tribe for 38 years. Motaung wants Motshegwa to take what he calls corrective measures to restore the chieftainship of Kang village to the rightful heir, being him as the firstborn son of Gaeboelwe Pego, the son of Motaung, who was first gazetted as a Native Authority by High Commissioner’s Notice No. 19 of 1944. He has also attached a District Commissioner’s Office report for Tsabong Via Kuruman dated April 10, 1945, received by Botswana National Archives and Records Services on April 23, 1945. “The report is explicit and clear on the chieftainship of my great-grandfather,” he stated. According to Motaung, the appointment of Church Seipone was a vote-casting appointment, so no child of Church Seipone could be an heir and inherit the chieftainship because he became chief through the casting of a ballot.
“Numerous inquiries and inquests were made by the government, which revealed that the rightful heir to the Kang royalty is myself, Omponye Motaung, as a firstborn son of Gaeboelwe Pego, who was a firstborn son of Motaung Seipone, firstborn in Pego Kathu’s homestead,” he wrote. He states that the latest inquest was on November 19, 2013, comprising Kgosi Seboko being Mookamela makgotla a Setswana (Dikgotla overseer), Kgosi Mokhutshwane Sekgoma, Senior Sub Tribal Authority Serowe, Kgosi Elijah Makgoeng, headman of record Serowe, Kgosi Morabeng Phori of Kang, Kgosi Montshiwa of Lehututu (deceased), Kgosi Masimong Phori of Phuduhudu, Kgosi Seka of Inalegolo, Mme Letshelaphala as acting District Commissioner of Hukuntsi, Mme Pule, Tribal Secretary Kgalagadi, and Rre Otsile Bailelwang as Master of Ceremonies. This commission of inquiry, he said, revealed that the appointment of Church Seipone derailed the chieftainship of Kang due to reasons which existed at the time. He states that Gaeboelwe Pego had nominated Makake Seipone as regent but was not considered due to illiteracy; as a result, Church Seipone won against Samuel Pego through the casting of a vote.
“Following the demise of Church Seipone in 2010, there was a consultation by the former District Commissioner of Hukuntsi, namely Molaodi Leipego (now Chief of Hukuntsi), into the Kang Chieftainship affairs, who was later transferred with immediate effect together with the Tribal Secretary with him before resolving the matter,” he wrote. Further, he states that the then minister, Peter Siele, conducted Kgotla meetings on the 20th July 2012 as well as on the 15th July 2013 to address the matter. He states that all the meetings held by Siele were in vain, as such the inquiry by the delegation of Kgosi Mokhutshwane Sekgoma and others was detailed. “The inquiry explicitly outlined that Basadi Seipone is not the rightful heir to the throne as her father was voted in as Chief, not as a birthright. The authorities went ahead and appointed Basadi Seipone, denying me, Omponye Motaung, my birthright as the legitimate chief of Kang. I therefore request mediation and for corrective measures to be taken to restore the dignity of the Kang chieftainship in this regard,” he stated. In January 2015, the then district commissioner for Kgalagadi, Moemedi Letina, announced Basadi Seipone as the new Kgosi of Kang. The Kang throne became vacant in 2010 after the death of Kgosi Church Seipone, who had ruled Kang for 38 years. Kgosi Morabeng Phori had been acting as the Kgosi of Kang since the demise of Kgosi Church Seipone. Speaking at a Kgotla meeting in Kang, Letina said numerous consultative meetings were held by former Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Peter Siele, with Kang residents regarding the chieftainship.
Contacted for a comment, Kgosi Basadi Seipone laughed off that there could still be anyone after her throne. “I am surprised that you are talking about that issue right now when it has long been resolved. Those who claimed the throne even lost at the courts,” she said. Seipone said, besides being vindicated before courts, she has no reason to doubt that she is the legitimate leader of the Kang people. Further, she said she has been carrying out her duties without any disturbance and never expected to be on any day would have her legitimacy questioned. Contacted for a comment, Chief Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Chandapiwa Baputaki, said that they are still engaging internally on the matter. “The Ministry is aware of Motaung’s allegations and is still conducting internal engagements. Therefore, the Ministry is currently not in a position to discuss the matter with third parties until the concerned parties have been fully engaged,” she stated.