Chiefs frown on sections of Local Govt Bill

NNASARETHA KGAMANYANE
Correspondent | Friday January 27, 2012 00:00

 

According to some sections of the Local Government Bill No. 13 of 2011, which was presented to Ntlo ya Dikgosi (House of Chiefs) yesterday, 'the Minister shall, by order published in the (Government) Gazette, declare any place within any administrative district a township and shall define the boundaries of that township'.

The other section of the Bill that has attracted the ire of the chiefs states that, 'the minister shall, in declaring a township under subsection (1), consult the relevant council and community'.

These clauses contradict the present provisions of the local government statute, which allows the minister to declare rural areas townships only after mineral deposits have been found in them.

Most of the members of the Ntlo ya Dikgosi have rejected the new proposal to the amendment of the law as they feel that the demarcating of townships and their boundaries that has been left to the whims of a minister will have the effect of breaking apart their tribal districts and eventually rendering chieftainship irrelevant.

Bamalete Kgosi Mosadi Seboko strongly opposed the arbitrary turning of rural areas into townships and said that they want their villages to be developed but that does not mean that they have to be converted into townships.  Kgosi Seboko said that she welcomes industries in her tribal jurisdiction as they can create jobs for the community.

'We welcome industries in our villages but that does not mean they (villages) should be turned into townships,' she said.  'The other thing that bothers me is the fact that this clause allows our villages to be divided up.'

Kgosi Alfred Monnawathebe of Thamaga region said, 'Ngwao boswa. Tshaba e senang ngwao ke tshaba e e latlhegileng,' meaning that our culture is our heritage and a nation without culture is a lost nation. Kgosi Monnawathebe told the House that he strongly opposed the clause.

He said rural areas should be left the way they are. 'Don't bring towns to rural areas,' he said firmly. Kgosi Monnawathebe said that if rural areas are turned into towns, that will not only cause tribal conflicts but it will also set dikgosi and the government against each other as it would be difficult for dikgosi to control the new urban community.

Local Government Minister, Lebonaamang Mokalake, assured dikgosi that the declaration of rural areas to townships does not mean that dikgosi will be abolished but is meant to bring development to the communities.

He gave the House an example of Tlokweng village that has become an urban area with many industries and modern buildings. 'Nothing has changed in Tlokweng. There are still Kgotla's and Kgosi and his deputies. Tlokweng is run in a cultural way like any other rural area,' Mokalake explained.

Deputy chairman of the House of Chiefs, Kgosi Lotlaamoreng ll of Barolong, totally disagreed with what the minister said and reminded the House how townships have affected some tribes and bogosi. He said that areas like Jwaneng, Phikwe, Kasane and Ghanzi have been affected after they were transformed into townships.

'It is important that we get concerned because the tribes of the areas that I have just mentioned lost their chiefs. They are now under the authority of Court Presidents. What will happen if all our villages get transformed into townships? That shows that bogosi will be doomed as Court Presidents rule towns,' he said.

Kgosi Lotlaamoreng's words stirred anger in most of dikgosi who then took turns to reject the motion. Only Kgosi Oreagetse Machilidza agreed with the new changes in the law. He accused other dikgosi of selfishness and said, 'I know that you are fearing that bogosi will disappear when the new clauses are implemented. It is wise to think about your people than that. Nowadays we are living in a transformed and still transforming nation. Let our villages develop so that our people can gain from the industries brought to them.'

Machilidza said that everyone wants to live a more modern life. He said that people migrate from rural areas to towns to seek better lifestyles.