Kgari's deputy dies

GREG KELEBONYE
Staff Writer | Monday November 29, 2010 00:00

 

He died early Sunday after he lost control of his Toyota Camry and hit a culvert as he was entering Lentsweletau.Bakwena Kgosi, Kgari Sechele II confirmed the death of his cousin and deputy.

'We were informed early this morning of the passing on of Kgosi Makgasane. At the moment details as to what really happened are sketchy,' he said.  It is the second time in four years that Bakwena have lost a deputy Chief.

Kgosi Sentibile Sechele, who deputised Kgari Sechele II from the day he was appointed in 2002, died in April 2006. Kgosi Keineetse Sebele was appointed in his stead but was removed two months back following complaints about him from many of the Bakwena. Makgasane was then appointed in his place.

Makgasane is a descendant of Motswakhumo Kgosidintsi, a member of the royal family who peacefully broke away from the main section of the Bakwena morafe after he had asked Kgosi Sebele I of the Bakwena in Molepolole to allow him and his bosom friend Paledi to establish a cattle-post at Lentswe-la-di-tau. He was the fourth born child of Morotsi and Amolemo Motswakhumo.

He did part of his primary education at Lentsweletau Primary School before proceeding to Camp Primary School in Gaborone. From Camp, he went to Kgari Sechele Secondary School where he did his secondary education.

After graduating from high school he went to the then Gaborone Polytechnic where he did a course in welding and fabricating from 1985 to 1987.

He then lectured mechanical engineering at Selebi-Phikwe and Palapye Technical Colleges respectively.

In 1999, Makgasane went to study for a higher national diploma at the University of Teesside in Middlesbrough in the United Kingdom (UK). He completed his studies in 2001.

Coming back to Botswana he took up lecturing at the Auto Trades Technical College (ATTC) before transferring to Palapye Technical College where he became the head of department (HoD) in the mechanical engineering department.

In 2008 he retired from the job as a lecturer and assumed the bogosi in Lentsweletau. Until then his younger brother Morulaganyi held fort. However it was only last November that his tribe celebrated his enthronement.

His appointment by Bakwena Kgosi was not without controversy, especially that he was appointed into a vacancy created when former deputy Kgosi Keineetse was dismissed from his post. Such was the disapproval of some Bakwena tribesmen that they made it known during the meeting convened by Bakwena Kgosi that they disapproved of Makgasane's appointment and they would go all the way to show that disapproval, even meeting with the president.

As has happened previously, the Bakwena bogosi will now be looking for a deputy. And unless compromise is pre-eminence, whatever appointment is made will become a hot potato for the tribe.

The 49-year old Makgasane is survived by his wife Choga and their three sons Tshepho, Motswakhumo and Leruo.