Kgafela's frustrations
| Monday May 4, 2015 18:00
“We are ridiculed as “batho ba Botswana”(people from Botswana) when we claim our legitimate birth right.’’
It has come to light that contrary to general assumptions that Bakgatla King Kgafela II has attained South African citizenship, the king together with his family and uncle Ramono are being frustrated by the South African government in their efforts to get South African passports and Identity cards.
This frustration has been laid bare by none other than Kgafela himself, writing for his blog, the king’s journal.
Kgafela says throughout the years 2012-2013 “we have specifically requested (in writing) protection of the South African government against looming danger to our lives on account of the high profile nature of our challenges. Our request has fallen onto deaf ears.”
Kgafela pours out, “At the present moment - as South Africa celebrates Freedom day on 27th April 2015 - the King of Bakgatla ba Kgafela tribe in South Africa (Kgafela II) and his family are without ID’s and passports…”
Kgafela claims that he became a citizen of South Africa in November 2012, but to date he still struggles to get the passport and ID documents. Without an ID Kgafela II says he is just a foreigner who struggles to manoeuvre around because an ID is required almost everywhere to do business in public and private affairs, he laments.
Further relating his ordeal Kgafela II says his great grandfather, Kgosi Linchwe I was the co- founder of the African National Congress (ANC) while his father Kgosi Linchwe II cared for the ANC comrades during the war against apartheid. Kgafela further says his royal uncle Ramono Linchwe was born and raised in South Africa. “He worked with my father to help the comrades, but he too has suffered the same rejection (no passports, ID documents).
“My mother was born and raised in South Africa in the Motsepe clan. She retains her old South African ID number, yet her ID book has similarly been withheld to this day without reason.”