Kalabeng causes storm at Kanye Kgotla

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Wednesday July 28, 2010 00:00

 

In fact, had the majority of attendees lost their heads, an exchange of blaows, and throwing of chairs would have ensued. Tempers of the old men and women flared but the director of ceremonies appealed for calm.

The rightful heir to the throne is Leema Gaseitsiwe, the first son of the late Kgosi Seepapitso IV who died in April this year. The meeting was told that due to ill health, he has agreed to allow his younger brother Malope to be the 'Kgosikgolo'. When he took the floor, Kalabeng recited a short prayer in which he said, 'Baitshwarele Modimo gonne gaba a itse se ba se dirang' (Lord forgive them for they do not know what they are doing) sparking murmurs of disapproval from members of the public. He produced a copy of the Bogosi Act saying it is the tribe that must vote for their Kgosi and not for the royal family to impose anybody on the tribe.

Perhaps trying to push a point home, he produced and started distributing a bunch of papers, which he said were a record of the 1995 trial of Kgosi Sepapitso and his son. He accused the government of supporting Leema then and said now the same man is trying to grab Bogosi unlawfully, invoking loud murmurs this time. Some people started calling for his forced removal from the stage and the pleas did not fall on deaf ears. An unidentified man stood up and grabbed the microphone from Kalabeng and more men from the public stood up. He said that Malope was brought to the Kgotla because he had lost his job and having to take care of his ailing brother, Leema. This time they forced him to sit down and give up his presentation.

It was clear that the timing for whatever Kalabeng had planned was not right. When Ketumile Kaboeamodimo took the floor he explained to the former member of House of Chiefs and the public that the Bogosi Act, from which he was quoting, that it was for the royal family to decide who amongst them should take over the vacant position. Then they can call the Morafe and present their preferred heir, he said. 'Kgosi e tsala Kgosi. Ga re battle Kgosi ya letsalelwa nageng,' he said as more ululations rocked the Kgotla. He said whoever was opposed to Malope's appointment should explain who he is and how he is related to the royal family.

Speaker after speaker said that their Bogosi is not for freedom square nor is it for voting. They said that Bangwaketse understand their Bogosi properly and they would not allow anybody, to dictate to them how their should handle the affairs of their Bogosi. One speaker said that they do not want Tribal Authority positions in Ga-Ngwaketse. They said that the fact that there was a misunderstanding in the royal family at some point, it should not be dwelled upon to destroy the good things that the future may hold for the tribe and the royal family. Several headmen from neighbouring villages attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Local Government Kentse Rammidi was not satisfied at the manner Kalabeng was treated. He appealed to the Bangwaketse to respect the Setswana rule of 'mmualebe o bua lagagwe gore mona-lentle a le tswe'. He said the Kgotla is a forum where people are allowed to express their views even though they may be different from that held by the majority. He also emphasised that people have misunderstandings in their families but that should not derail their future plans.

The date for the coronation has not been announced, as the family has got to agree on a number of issues pertaining to the ceremony. The meeting was also told that a delegation would be sent to see Minister of Local Lovernment to formalise Kgosi Malope's appointment, as well as to pave his way to the Ntlo ya Dikgosi.