Obituary for Kgosi Letlole Thobega
Correspondent | Friday April 10, 2015 14:12
His death spelled the end to his 76-year-old reign of Mankgodi village, and satellite villages, Fikeng, Tloaneng, Ramaphatle, Thaping and Mogonye.
Kgosi Letlole Thobega was born in Mankgodi village on April 6, 1929, 1929, the first-born son of Kgosi Monnye and Mohumagadi Mosadi Thobega.
In 1939, he started his primary education at Mankgodi primary school. He proceeded to Motswedi School, where he completed his secondary education. He proceeded to work at the Molepolole kgotla for a short period of time in 1953, at the age of 24, he ascended to the Bahurutshe throne, taking over from his uncle who had temporarily held the position following the death of Kgosi Letlole Thobega’s father.
In 1956, Kgosi Thobega entered a holy matrimony with Josephine Thobega. They were blessed with eight children. Josephine passed away in 2008.
Kgosi Thobega served in the Ntlo ya Dikgosi from 2004 until 2009, as an ordinary member. In 2009, he was awarded the Presidential Order of Meritorious Service by the Botswana government, an accolade that marked 50 years of his helm at the chieftaincy.
Kgosi Thobega will be remembered as an amiable but stern man who did not entertain any nonsense, but was also gregarious and fair to all. Kgosi Thobega was also known for standing up against injustice and disorderliness, and wasn’t afraid to confront and reproach anyone he felt was out of order, even government officials.
A teetoteller, Thobega was a Christian who worshipped at the UCCSA church in Mankgodi. He was also instrumental in the building of the London Missionary Society church, as the UCCSA was then known, in the village.
Kgosi Thobega’s Christian faith was evident to all, as he would sometimes invite Pastor Lesego Daniel of Rabboni Ministries to host crusades at the village kgotla.
His nephew Tlotlo Letlole remembers him as a calm and kind man who was also strict where necessary. Letlole also said the chief was known to mediate fairly in cases brought to him and always encouraged people to mend their ways, and make peace, even after squabbles. “He was a God fearing man who appreciated discipline. He disliked bad behaviour and alcohol,” he said.
Kgosi Thobega battled with undisclosed illness since September 2014. He was admitted at Bokamoso Hospital, Gaborone and was later transferred to Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa for specialized treatment, where he passed away on March 31, 2015.
Kgosi Thobega is survived by three younger siblings and five children (one son and four daughters).
A memorial service will be held at the village kgotla today at 3pm. Funeral proceedings will begin on Saturday morning from 6am at the Mankgodi kgotla, before the monarch is finally laid to rest.
Ke naiwa mmele makopong ga ke naiwe – kebua ka tshwene mohurutshe. A mmadipheko Nong!
Robala ka Kagiso Motshweneng!