Bring back the Kgosikgolo
Bame Piet | Thursday June 19, 2014 16:55
A lot has happened since the departure of the Kgosikgolo three years ago, one of them was the 2013 drought that claimed a lot of our livestock. So cruel was the drought that only a Kgosi of his stature could help find a solution – make rain. Then came the sun behaving strangely some time in September. Some people claimed all sorts of knowledge, such as eclipse, whilst others were saying Badimo were trying to communicate their unhappiness. This year is also full of surprises, people eating grass in an effort to communicate with their maker. Whether it was a blessing or curse, we recently witnessed the appointment of four ministers for education, far exceeding the Constitution, which very constitution the Kgosikgolo tried to challenge.
Surprises are galore, and children as young as 11 years young are mothers, whilst some village 40km west of the capital city has been transformed into a gangsters’ paradise. Even the Kgosi himself is terrified to speak about the young boys who have invaded his village, whilst the police claim everything is normal. Only a Kgosikgolo can find solutions to all this mathata. I think all these would not be happening if we had a Kgosikgolo within our mist, for he is the one who can explain or bring a solution to these mysteries. He may be on the other side of the border, but he is fully aware of what is taking place this side. He knows what the solution is and once tried to share it, but nobody cared to listen to him.
The King of Kings warned in November 2011 that the way things were going, the coming of the end was around the corner. At that kgotla meeting, the Kgosikgolo advised the Attorney General to smoke weed. He explained that in Kgatleng, they smoke weed ka thulaganyo - meaning that there is protocol observed during the smoking sessions of the holy herb. “Rona mo Kgatleng mo, motokwane re a o goga, mme re o goga ka thulahganyo. Mma Molokomme o tshwanetse go goga motokwane”.
In other words, there are rituals that are followed before the holy herb can finally reach the last smoker, or rather, inhaler. Children wait for Batsadi to smoke until they are satisfied. The same protocol applies to tea drinking.
When I was growing up, tea was a sacred commodity that was served with matsetseleko utmost care early in the morning. Children knew that their time was way after the elders had enjoyed their round. First it was the grannies, then the generation after them, then our mothers and thereafter, our elder brothers. It was so important that when one was sent to the neighbour, a few yards from home, as early as six in the morning, he knew that this was serious. Being sent to ask for tea leaves, sugar and milk simultaneously was one adventure that we did not like as kids. Asking for the three ingredients at one go was often met with a loud shout that would awaken the other neighbours – Ke gore mmaago ene, are ke di tsaya kae?” All that is gone, nowadays children drink tea with their parents at the same time, sharing the same table. On that November day, after explaining the ‘zol protocol’ to the packed Kgotla, the Kgosikgolo then prescribed a few puffs for the Attorney General Mma Molokomme who was not in that meeting. With her dreadlocks, one may not be wrong to prescribe a few puffs for her, just in case she is a member of that community.
I support the prescription because things seem to be going in the wrong direction under the watch of the Attorney General. First, the government is in court every week fighting with the trade unions, opposition parties, and others, for breaking the very laws that Parliament passed and were signed by the president. Just this week, the government lost another case of trying to de-recognise BOFEPUSU. Why did HE sign the Public Service Act when he knew that he was not going to comply with it? The next thing, HE wants to de-recognise others. What is so important about de-recognising others when you want everyone else to recognise you as their leader?
Every week the president is announcing his version of salary increment for public servants without the blessing of the public service bargaining council. This council was established by the National Assembly and recognised in the law. The solution is right under our noses: It is important for the Attorney General to smoke at least two puffs and confront that guy, tell him straight in the face that, “Rra, o re tlhabisa ditlhong, ao. O re tsenya matlho a batho!”