Govt hatches plan to get rid of Sekai

LERATO MALEKE
Correspondent | Thursday June 20, 2013 00:00

 

Sekai who has dominated the headlines for the past four years will be 60 on July 17. As a civil servant, he should retire at 60, though he can continue in his post if the government hires him on contract. Sekai told Mmegi he is shocked to hear reports that he has written a letter to the Minister of Local Government, Peter Siele, informing him that he will be retiring next month.

However, he said that even if he will be retiring next month, he is entitled to ask for a contract. 'But I cannot say much about applying for a contract because I have not yet written a letter of retirement,' he insisted.He said that even if he retires, he cannot ignore working on contract at a time when the Kgatleng bogosi is in crisis. 'Who would I be leaving behind?' he asked.

He said these are the times the Bakgatla need him most and he cannot ignore applying for a contract at the right time. Sekai said that paramount chief, Kgafela Kgafela II is not around and he (Sekai) cannot abandon the tribe.Although the Bogosi Act states that chiefs should retire at 60, Sekai is not comfortable with this.

'Anyway that is government's decision that we should retire at 60, but where on earth did they hear that a chief should retire?', asks Sekai. 'Kgosi e tshwanetse go nna kgosi go fitlhella a ikokotlela ka thobane, a bo a swe. (A chief must be a chief until he walks with a stick for support, to eternity). This is another way of government trying to kill bogosi,' he argues.  Meanwhile, Siele said he cannot confirm nor deny that the Bakgatla deputy chief has written a letter about his retirement.  'If he says so (that he has not written a letter), it is unfortunate and I cannot comment on his personal capacity,' said the minister.

He explained that every civil servant is entitled to retirement when they reach a certain age and that Sekai is not an exception. He said Sekai is currently working as Bakgatla deputy chief and he is not on contract. He said if Sekai wants to continue in his post after reaching retirement age, he should make a representation.