Bakgatla royals in SA to defend Mochudi as headquarters
Tefo Pheage | Wednesday August 24, 2016 15:14
The Commission was appointed by Mahumapelo after disapproving the initial report by the Commission on the grounds that they did not consult Botswana-based Bakgatla to hear their side of the story.
Some of the Moruleng royal families want to cut ties with the Botswana-based Bakgatla and want to rule themselves without Botswana-based Bakgatla, while Botswana-based Bakgatla contend that Bakgatla chieftaincy has always been led and headquartered from Botswana and cannot change at the mere calls of disgruntled protestors.
Mahumapelo recently rejected the Commission’s report and findings on the basis that the commission had sidelined Botswana-based Bakgatla in their enquiry despite historical books suggesting that they are an important part of the tribe and tribal lineage.
The premier said the report he signed recently has serious omissions that he only learnt of. At the forefront of his reservations, the premier wants the commission to involve Mochudi-based Bakgatla who the commission had sidelined.
The Commission came to Botswana two weeks ago to invite the royal family to come and make their submissions. Kgosi Kgafela II’s brother Mmusi Kgafela confirmed to Mmegi yesterday in a brief interview that the Botswana team left for Moruleng yesterday comprising among others the walking encyclopaedias of Bakgatla history.
“Much of the reporting is going to be done by Kgosikgolo Kgafela. I am not in a position to discuss much on their report as I have not had a chance to look into it. I will only be in touch with them this evening,” he said.
The report is expected at most to challenge and trash most of the submissions by anti-Kgafela’s camp which wants nothing to do with Kgafela. Should they succeed in doing so, Kgafela will live to enjoy most of his powers left to him by his father, Linchwe II, but should they fail to impress, Kgafela’s woes will persist.
The initial dismissed report concluded that both Kgafela and his royal uncle Pilane, have no legitimate claim over the chieftainship of Bakgatla-ba-ga-Kgafela in Moruleng, further recommending that the recognition of Pilane should be “disregarded and nullified with immediate effect”. Having considered Bakgatla-ba-ga-Kgafela customs and the Traditional Leadership Framework Act, the commission recommended that Merafe Ramono be recognised as the rightful senior traditional leader of Bakgatla-ba-ga-Kgafela in Moruleng. Ramono is Pilane’s cousin.
The new premier’s document acknowledges that all was done, but wonders why Botswana–based Bakgatla were not consulted. The premier points to the fact that the history of Bakgatla-ba-ga-Kgafela fell under the Paramount Chief in Botswana. “It is not mentioned anywhere in the report that the authority of Botswana has at any stage changed in reigning or appointing Kgosi in Moruleng,” said Mahumapelo in his document, which stipulates the reasons why the commission’s report was rejected. The premier further says, “either is mentioned that such a practice which emanated from custom has changed”.
Mahumapelo continued: “It is clear from the report under methodology that the commission did not at any stage consult or engage Bakgatla in Botswana. This omission is not explained anywhere in the report”. The report by the North West Premier further says it is not stated how a decision was reached to derecognise Kgosi Kgafela or even the process which was followed to reach such conclusion.
He moved to say that as a result of the disapproval of the report the commission whose mandate was to investigate the dispute and claims has ceased to exist.
“It is my considered view to appoint a Commission of Judicial Inquiry within reasonable time to deal with all issues in totality regarding this matter and other matters, which circumstances may warrant referral and considerations,” he said as he renewed the mandate of the Commission.