'We were not given a chance to tell Bakgatla' - Siele

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent | Friday November 25, 2011 00:00

 

Siele was answering a question from Francistown South Member of Parliament (MP), Wynter Mmolotsi, who wanted to know if Bakgatla had been notified about the development prior to the de-recognition of the paramount chief by the Botswana government.

However, Siele said that the government found it difficult to consult Bakgatla because Bogosi in Kgatleng barred cabinet ministers from addressing Kgotla meetings in the tribal district.

He said on October 24, 2011 the then Minister of Local Government, Lebonaamang Mokalake, together with the then Minister of Labour and Home Affairs (Siele), were turned away and prevented from addressing a Kgotla meeting at the Mochudi main Kgotla.

He added that Mokalake on October 31, 2011 requested and arranged for a meeting with 'Rre' Kgafela's uncles in an effort to further consult.

'I then arranged for yet another meeting with 'Rre' Kgafela's uncles for November 8, 2011,' he said.

Siele said that both meetings failed because Kgafela had instructed his uncles not to attend the meeting.

Mmolotsi then asked Siele why the government had not arranged to meet Kgafela earlier as he had shown interest in speaking to the government.

Siele said that Mmolotsi's sources were misled because from what he knows, it was the other way round as the government had on several instances tried to arrange meetings with the royal family, but failed.

'There are instances where we had agreed to meet, but when the day came, the royal family changed dates making it even more difficult to meet,' he said.

Kgatleng West MP Gilbert Mangole asked Siele if he was implying that their attempts to address Kgotla meetings at Kgatleng were aimed at notifying Bakgatla that their Kgosi was no longer a Kgosi.

He said that if that was the case, then the minister should say whether or not they notified those that they arranged these meetings with about the subject.

Siele stated that the objective was to notify Bakgatla about the derecognising of Kgosi Kgafela. He said that sensitive issues such as these need to be addressed in a particular manner, especially since they concern the Morafe and elderly people.

He said that they wanted to personally deliver the message.

'If addressed beforehand, such issues are likely to be distorted before they are heard from the horses' mouth,' Siele said.