Batlokwa youth sue Bogosi

Tefo Pheage | Friday January 8, 2016 15:24

The youth through their organisation, ZERO to HERO, sued Bogosi, Tlokweng Sub-District Council and Batlokwa Development Trust through Nkwe Attorneys.

The tribal leadership is well-known for their no–nonsense attitude towards entertainement activities having cancelled the (in) famous beach-party two years ago.

Court documents show that the youth were told that the stadium use approval from the Trust is “subject to conditions such as but not limited to getting a clearance from Bogosi as well as the police and council.” The confirmation also called upon the youth to conduct a neighbourhood consultation forum which the applicants say they did and got the go ahead from neighbours. They further attached the names and contact numbers of the neighbours for approval.

In the court papers, ZERO to HERO say after writing to Tlokweng Bogosi they experienced unusual delays and lobbied the area MP, Same Bathobakae for assistance. “The reply had the effect of not acceding to the staging of such an event at the stadium without cogent reasons.”

The tribal administration had ruled that the occassion is of no great importance. “In consideration of the aim, operating conditions, what you stand to offer as well as the composition of the target group for the envisaged event, the tribal administration position is that there are a number of issues that conflict with the interests of the welfare of the community which is entrusted upon us.”

The Bogosi intimated that the extention of time from 12pm to 4am is not conducive. “The noise anticipated from the instruments described herein is a concern to the neighbouhood communities, consideration alongside the duration and timing of the event,” further argued Bogosi.

Bogosi felt that the location of the event may not be favourable for the times suggested.

This response from Bogosi resulted in the earlier offer letter being cancelled under pressure from Bogosi. In the letter dated December 16, 2015, the Development Trust says, “we would like to inform you that our offer letter dated 28 November 2015 has been cancelled because as part of the conditiont to use the stadium, the Tribal Administration did not give you clearance as per their letter dated 08 December 2015 copied to the Trust.”

ZERO to HERO argued that the the decision by Bogosi is a frustration of youth empowerment. “The youth are the drivers of the economy. The vision is to allow us to try and do something meaningful for ourselves without over dependence on government,” argued ZERO to HERO. They pleaded with the court for protection from decisions such thas the one held by their tribal administration. ZERO to HERO attatched costs they would suffer as a result of the cancellation. Broadhurst Magistrates Court ruled in favour of the youth saying Kgosi Puso Gaborone’s refusal was unlawful and set aside his notice.

“The first respondent (Bogosi) is hereby prohibited and restrained from doing anything and or taking such steps as would be construed as interfering with hosting of such event,” reads the order.

The order further ordered the council to issue the youth with the necessary permits and declared as unlawful the cancellation of the Batlokwa Trust offer letter for the use of the stadium.

This however could not help as the Trust could not retrace their steps on the cancellation of the offer to use the stadium. The youth declined to comment saying they will call a press conference to share with the public what Tlokweng has become.

South East District Council chairperson, Phenyo Segokgo said they were disappointed with the decision to deny the youth such an oppotunity as the council, further adding that there was nothing they could do because the stadium is a private property owned by the Trust.

“We were of the view that it was better to manage people who were in one place than scattered around but we could not impose our views on the leadership. We hope to designate some areas for entertainement in the future for the youth,” he said, adding that they did not want to take sides.

Lawyer for the youth, Kabelo Nkwe said there was nothing they could do after the court ruled in their favour as the stadium is a private area.