Gakelebone vows to enter CKGR without permit

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Friday February 4, 2011 00:00

Speaking after the Court of Appeal judgment yesterday, in favour of Basarwa, Gakelebone said he was born and raised in the CKGR.  'Where else do they want me to go? I treat the CKGR as my home and I don't see why I should apply for a permit to go home. Do they need permits when they go to Serowe?  No they don't,' charged Gakelebone.  'They should show me where to go and I will leave them with their CKGR.  This government wants us to spend our time in courts over petty issues.  Even our children are going to have to go to court for what is legally theirs,' he said.Gakelebone said that his arrest last week, by wildlife officers, has denied him, Basarwa and attorney Gordon Bennet the chance to consult with the leader of their struggle Roy Sesana who has been missing in action for a while.  'Even today, I have not been officially charged and I don't know what my offence was.  They said they will call me to lay charges,' he said.

He reiterated that Basarwa are struggling to attend court cases because there are no resources to fund transportation, food and even lodging.

He said that the Court of Appeal ruling means a lot to the Basarwa community living in and outside the reserve.

However, he said that he was aware that there are hardheaded government officials who would disregard the court ruling on the basis that it favours Basarwa.  'They do not respect the courts they created.  Who else will respect the courts if the government can't extend such respect to the courts,' he wondered.  Disputing a recent statement from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation that talks are ongoing between government and Basarwa, Gakelebone said that no such talks exist.  He said they have written letters to government detailing what should be on the agenda, but government has not responded.

The court of appeal granted Basarwa permission to sink a new borehole within the CKGR or deepen the existing borehole at Mothomelo settlement to abstract water for domestic use. The Mothomelo borehole came into being after DeBeers prospecting drew water instead of diamonds in the '80s.  Basarwa drew water from the borehole until government closed it during the 2002 relocations.