KDC then and now
Zolani Kraai | Friday April 4, 2014 12:56
However, it is almost ironic that in the midst of all this beauty public servants, usually from the eastern part of the country, have since Independence been reluctant to relocate for work to Kgalagadi.
They would cite the long distance from urban life and home villages.
For those public officers who ‘braved’ relocating to Kgalagadi they were met with daily challenges. Some after a span of five to 10 years in either Hukuntsi or Tsabong would later share stories of poor telecommunications, lack of electricity, basic commodities and saline water, especially in the earlier days.
However, from a local’s point of view, Kgalagadi has changed dramatically since the Independence era.
One such local, a Mongologa by origin, is politician and businessman, Milton Moseru.
During an open day at the Kgalagadi District Council (KDC) recently, Moseru took members of the audience down memory lane. He retraced the local authority’s establishment and its evolution.
According to Moseru, KDC was established in 1965. At the time it consisted of 12 council management staff and one vehicle bearing the registration number BH2. The car was the sole mode of transport to help deliver services in the vast district.
“The only driver then was a certain Mr. Jonas,” he recollected.
Moseru added that the council secretary then was Setshedi Malope assisted by Kebapatile Montshiwa, who also doubled as the treasurer.
“Legodimo Leipego was the education secretary and he was assisted by James Mothibamele, former Member of Parliament for Kgalagadi District and now an evangelist,” said the veteran administrator.
“The revenue collectors were Messrs Setlhogile and Tumaeletse, the latter being the father to the current Kgosi of Bogogobo, Benjamin Bailelwang,” he said.
Moseru said during that time, the District Commissioner (DC) was Major Bowen whose post was later localised, bringing in Boshwaeng.
“At that time the DC would also act as magistrate and they occupied two tiny colonial offices in Tsabong,” he said.
Turning to the political leadership of the council, Moseru recalled that the first council chairman was Herald Lee who hailed from Molopo farms, now known as Bray near the Boshoek farms.
“The second chairman of the council was Tlhage Motshoge from Tshane followed by Abram Tumaeletse, Peter Toto, Justice Bimbo and Tshipietsile Mothelesi.
Others who became chairpersons were Justice Nkwane from Bray, Justice Leburu from Tshane, Zol Moapare from Hukuntsi, and of course the current chairperson being Frans Van Der Westurhuizen who hails from Bokspits,” said Moseru.
In those days, the council ran its business from a classroom at Tsabong Primary School, he said.
“The 10 councillors then, would be collected by our driver Jonas using the Council’s Chevrolet pick-up. He would round them up from all over the district, a tiring exercise for him to manoeuvre the rough terrains of the Kgalagadi then,” said Moseru.
Hukuntsi Sub-District was then established in 1976, although the headquarters remained in Tsabong. An assistant council secretary, a position that has since been upgraded to senior assistant council secretary, then headed the sub-district.
Moseru became Hukuntsi councillor in 1989 and among his campaigns, began lobbying for the establishment of a separate treasury department away from that of Tsabong.
He said the dependence on Tsabong led to delays in transmission of revenues for Hukuntsi, thus hampering the efficient implementation of projects as well as productivity.
“The first treasury offices I am referring to are now occupied by the Botswana Power Corporation at the old Hukuntsi, Lehututu, Lokgwabe and Hunhukwe junction, near the old Hukuntsi mall,” Moseru said.
“Today we see Kgalagadi District Council having fully-fledged Rural Administration Centres in Hukuntsi and Tsabong and with a political leadership of 26 councillors,” Moseru said.
Today, the old KDC is barely visible.
From those humble days, the council now boasts 1,000 employees and a fleet of 400 vehicles.
“I am proud to have been part of the evolution team of politicians and to have received the support of previous council management teams that have seen it develop into the district it is today,” said Moseru.
Over the years, Kgalagadi has witnessed developments such as upgrading of roads from sand (gravel) to bitumen standard and the construction of primary hospitals, junior and secondary schools, and brigades.
The area has also seen the development of quality water supplies in almost all the villages as well as improved access to utilities such as electricity and telecommunication structures.