This time around, Basarwa, who have had to wage an expensive court case against government before, wanted the court to compel government to grant them access to water within the Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve. In the first case, Basarwa wanted their forced relocation from the CKGR to be declared illegal and for the court to grant them access to the CKGR. We have to say, from the very beginning, we were opposed to the government's position on the CKGR issue for the simple reason that it sought to overrun Basarwa concerns and interests in the CKGR.
Sometimes the government programme seemed hell-bent on punishing Basarwa who wanted government to simply consult them and protect their interests and take cognisance of their concerns. At the heart of the Basarwa issue has always been human rights; the respect of a people's right to their land, and respect of the right to dignity, the need to understand that land rights are much more than just occupation of that land, but rather, use of that land.
