Bakgatla petition ping pongs through govt

Lerato Maleke | Wednesday June 18, 2014 06:59

 

The petition, authored by Bakgatla – Baa – Kgafela to President Ian Khama a fortnight ago, has already sparked strong emotions in Mochudi, with some villagers spending a night in vigil and walking great distances to deliver the document, while royal family members are reportedly incensed with the move.

Yesterday, Presidential spokesperson, Jeff Ramsay told Mmegi that the Local Government Ministry would respond to the petition. Originally, the Office of the President had said it would asnwer the petitioners last week.

However, Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Peter Siele was curt when asked about when government would respond to the issues raised in the petition.

“I have received the petition and I cannot discuss it with the media,” Siele said, declining to be pressed further on the matter.

The secretary of the Mangana regimen which orchestrated the petition and its delivery, Kabelo Mosweetsi, confirmed that no response had yet been received from government. 

Mangana, which is Kgafela’s regimen, organised the night vigil and village-spanning march that delivered the six-page petition entitled “Petition for Redress of Grievances on the Conflict Between Bakgatla – Baa – Kgafela and Government on Bogosi ba Bakgatla – Baa – Kgafela.Meanwhile, members of the royal family in Kgatleng are reportedly incensed with the process the petition has taken and have distanced themselves from it. 

Recently, Kgafela’s younger brother, Mmusi, said the family would only comment once government has responded to the petition.

Sources in Kgatleng say Kgafela’s siblings Mmusi, Bakgatle and sister Seingwaeng, are unhappy with the process taken in producing the petition.

“The royal family wants Kgafela back but they are not prepared to be part of the petition. This could make it difficult for Khama to respond,”one source said.

In the petition, the tribe demands unconditional and immediate retraction of government’s de-recognition of Kgafela Kgafela II and Kgosi Bana Sekai Linchwe as well as the withdrawal of the arrest warrant against Kgafela.

The tribesman are also demanding the dropping of all pending charges against Kgafela, Sekai and other tribesmen and that “government must desist from making decisions concerning the bogosi and the culture of Bakgatla-Baa-Kgafela without consulting the morafe”.

Kgafela, Sekai and other tribesman are facing various charges relating to the introduction of flogging of several villagers by mephato (regiment) under the paramount chief’s direction. 

A warrant of arrest is in effect against Kgafela whom the State says escaped to South Africa to avoid justice in Botswana.