Tough times ahead for Bakwena royalty

Staff Writer | Friday December 10, 2010 00:00

 

Either he should have thought twice before making the substitution or Makgasane should have done the same before accepting the offer. If there is truth in what some Bakwena royals are saying, then Kgari has a hard time awaiting him.

This week a Bakwena royal, who preferred anonymity, said that this time Kgari would be under enormous pressure to call the royal family to discuss who should be his deputy. This, he said, would clear Kgari of being controlled by politicians. According to the source, the possible successors are Kgosikwena Sebele, Kgosimotse Sebele or Keineetse Sebele. However, Kgosikwena is automatically disqualified because he is serving a five-year sentence for stock theft.

On the other side there is Kealeboga Sechele or his younger brother Moiteelasilo Sechele. Kealeboga is son of Mokgalagadi and was embroiled in a legal battle with Kgari and the High Court ruled in favour of the latter.

Though Bakwena are still mourning the death of Makgasane, the royal family is yet to meet to discuss the matter, which is likely to deepen the rift between Kgari and his cousins. Makgasane was buried in Lentsweletau over the weekend after he died in a road accident just a few kilometers from his village. Keineetse Sebele did not attend the funeral and Mmegi's attempts to get a comment from him were unsuccessful. The Bogosi Act requires family members to discuss their nominee for post of deputy chief before his name can be presented to morafe. Once that is done, morafe would then decide who should be their deputy chief, and in the event of a split, they would go for elections and the name of the winner submitted to the Minister of Local Government for approval.

Meanwhile, Moeng Masilo, who shocked Bakwena five years ago when he announced that he was the rightful heir to the Bakwena Chieftainship, and that he wanted to replace Kgari, is preparing to launch a war. According to a family website (www.moengmasilo.com) the family, which was ridiculed by Bakwena in 2005, has been preparing to launch an attack contacting all who have knowledge about the Bakwena history.

'It is important to share this information with the rest of the world because the discourse is an international one as historical sources about the Kingdom of the Masilos in southern Africa can be found in archival records of countries such as Great Britain, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia, South Africa (Tshwane, North West Province to mention but a few),' the website says. It further says that the family has communicated to President Ian Khama, Kgosikgolo ya Bakgatla Kgafela Kgafela, King Letsie of Lesotho, Britain's Queen Elizabeth, President of United States of America (US) Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.