Gov't endorses Baitswi as Seleka leader
Mpho Mokwape | Wednesday September 10, 2025 14:04
In court documents filed by the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, the government says that Baitswi was lawfully and properly appointed, and that he was chosen by the people of Seleka themselves.
This response comes after Seleka filed a court application earlier this year, claiming she is the rightful heir to the position.
She is the daughter of the late Gabagopole Kobe Seleka, who she says served as the rightful Kgosana of Seleka until he died in 2021.
Seleka believes the chieftaincy should have stayed within her family, and that she was chosen by her relatives and village elders to take over from her father.
But the ministry says Seleka’s claim has no basis, and in the replying affidavit filed by Gabatlotlane Mogapi, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, it is stated that the selection of a new Kgosana followed a proper process.
According to Mogapi, a Kgotla meeting was held in Seleka on July 10, 2024, where the village community discussed and agreed on a new leader.
'It was during this meeting that the name of Kobe Baitswi was put forward by the community, and he was chosen as the person they wanted to lead them. The recommendation from the Kgotla meeting was then sent up through the tribal administration channels. The Bamangwato Tribal Administration supported the community’s choice and passed on the recommendation to the Director of Tribal Administration,' she said.
Mogapi explained that from there, the Minister of Local Government gave his approval, and Baitswi was officially recognised as the Kgosana of Seleka on September 3, 2024.
In Mogapi's affidavit, she argues that Seleka’s name was never brought up during the consultative meeting and that if the people of Seleka had wanted her to be their Kgosana, they would have said so at the public meeting.
'There is no evidence on record showing that Seleka was recommended or supported by the community at large,' she stated.
The government’s response strongly denied Seleka’s claims that the appointment was unlawful, irrational, or unfair, and they insist the correct procedure was followed and that the people were fully consulted.
She further argued that it is not enough to say one is the child of a former Kgosana; the community must still support and recommend the person before the minister can consider their name.
Seleka, however, maintains that the process was flawed and that her family was left out. She says that her uncle, Piet Mphakela Modiakgotla, was at the Kgotla meeting but was denied a chance to speak. She believes the record of proceedings from that meeting is incomplete and possibly altered to leave out important facts.
She also says that the tradition in Setswana culture is for a Kgosana’s children to inherit the position, unless the person was only holding it temporarily. In her argument, her father held the position in full and was never a caretaker. Therefore, she pointed out that she should have automatically been considered the heir.
However, the government disputes this claim, stating that whilst culture and tradition are important, the final decision must also consider the will of the people, and in this case, they say the community spoke clearly and chose Baitswi.
The case remains before the High Court in Francistown, and now the court will have to consider whether the appointment of Baitswi should be set aside or allowed to stand. Until then, Baitswi will continue to serve as the Kgosana of Seleka village with the effect of his installation.