Motokwe Bogosi Dispute Rages On
Pini Bothoko | Monday January 14, 2019 18:00
The feud on who should be crowned the village chief started after the former kgosi, Olebogeng Puleng retired back in 2016. Since then the village has not had a leader until Tshoso was appointed in December 1, 2018.
The village is allegedly divided over the matter as some want Kgosi Puleng’s son (Neo Puleng) to be crowned the new chief whilst others support Tshoso’s appointment. The dispute is believed to have been raging on since 2015 with a number of individuals trying their luck to take over the chieftaincy.
In the past Motokwe village chiefs were appointed from Molepolole until 1981 at the time Motokwe village’s first resident, Kgosi Puleng was appointed the village chief up till he retired in April 2016.
The former chief Puleng told The Monitor that then, he held a kgotla meeting in which he announced his decision to step down and hand over the chieftaincy to his son, but some residents did not welcome his decision suggesting elections should be held.
Kgosi Puleng said he did not welcome the idea of his successor to be elected in whilst he has a son fit to take over the position.
He said then he went to Bakwena Kgosikgolo Kgari Sechele III to announce his decision and also visited the village to seek the residents’ opinion on the matter.
“He (Kgosi Sechele) held numerous kgotla meetings in an effort to resolve the dispute.
I was, however, shocked in one of his kgotla meetings, despite my objection over the idea of votes, Kgosi Sechele asked residents to give him names of the people they would like to see elected to take over the chieftaincy.
In that same meeting, he suggested elections should be held resulting in Tshoso winning,” the former Kgosi said, disclosing that Tshoso’s followers drove out to bring people to vote in his favour.
Kgosi Puleng is currently not pleased with Tshoso’s inauguration and intends to challenge his appointment as the new chief of Motokwe.
The dejected Puleng said the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development took the decision to crown Tshoso as the new chief turning a blind eye on his objection into the matter, something that allegedly aggrieved some residents.
“Ga kea itumela, Kgosi Kgari Sechele o tsere bogosi jame abo gasa jaaka mabele mo dikokong.
I had expected that as the paramount chief he will advise the villagers accordingly because the chieftainship of Motokwe village was handed over to us (The Puleng’s) back in 1981.
I went to complain to the Ministry in the company of some neighbouring villages’ dikgosi, but unfortunately we could not be given time to meet the minister as we were told that he has received Kgosi Sechele’s recommendation letter accompanied by my complainant letter hence we should wait for his response,” revealed Kgosi Puleng.
He said while awaiting the minister’s response, he was shocked to learn of Tshoso’s installation as the new village chief. Reached for comment, Kgosi Tshoso’s uncle Phakwe Tshaila said the installation of his nephew was not conducted properly because Kgosi Sechele did not give nominees time to campaign for the position.
“He could have set a date in which the voting could have been conducted, giving residents time to prepare for the day and make sure that they all cast their votes,” Tshaila said.
“Kgosi Puleng was chosen by residents to lead Motokwe village and when retiring like he had, suggested to hand over the chieftaincy to his son Neo.
The right procedure was supposed to have been followed. Even if residents had mixed views over the matter the right procedure was supposed to have been followed for the sake of peace amongst villagers.”
For his part, Kgosi Tshoso said he was elected by residents of Motokwe village to lead them because the village chieftaincy is not of royalty.
“I know that Kgosi Puleng had wanted to hand over the chieftainship to his son and the residents refused and ended up electing me to lead them,” Tshoso said.
“I wish Kgosi Puleng could respect the villagers’ decision because he knows that our village chieftainship is not of royalty. I am aware of some residents are not pleased with my inauguration, but despite that I will continue to treat them equally for as long as I am in office.” Reached for comment, Kgosi Sechele III said as the paramount chief responsible for Kweneng district he tried numerous times to settle Motokwe bogosi disputes but failed.
He said even before Kgosi Puleng announced his retirement, there were disputes surrounding the village’s chieftainship.
“Back in 2016, Kgosi Puleng told me that he was retiring and I went to Motokwe village to address residents concerning the matter and they had mixed views, some wanted his son to step in whilst some were against his decision suggesting voting should be conducted.
I tried to make sense (of things) (by talking them) into them reaching an agreement to no avail.
I ended up suggesting they should conduct elections and recommended to the minister that Tshoso who had won the elections to step in as the next village chief, ” Kgosi Sechele III said.
He said when recommending Tshoso he also included in his letter to the minister that the outgoing kgosi was objecting to his decision and attached his complaint letter.
Asked if Motokwe village’s chieftainship is of royalty or not, Kgosi Sechele responded: “I do not have any records here indicating any change in Motokwe chieftainship ever since people were elected from Molepolole village to lead the village.
I do not have any records showing the Puleng family as royalty, even when Kgosi Puleng took over as the village chief he was voted in by residents not meaning he is of royalty. Residents can vote anyone capable to lead them,” Kgosi Sechele III said.
Kgosi Sechele III said after Kgosi Puleng’s retirement whilst the discussion was ongoing on who should step in, he suggested Kgosi Puleng could return to his seat until the matter is resolved and some residents petitioned his decision.
“The chieftainship of Motokwe village has over the years been surrounded by disputes, if there is someone unhappy with the minister’s decision to instill Tshoso as the new kgosi, they should not complain to me because the matter is now beyond me. They should rather contact the minister,” Kgosi Sechele said.