What lies beyond govt, Bakgatla truce

Five years ago, in good times, when the now Minister of Education and Skills Development, Unity Dow, was Kgosi Kgafela II’s lawyer, who was entangled in interrelated legal battles, suggested that he apply for presidential pardon.  Kgafela turned down Dow’s idea, who at the time was also the mediator between the Bakgatla leader and the state,  saying that innocent men do not have anything to apologise for.

Dow back then was advising on the counsel of the Attorney General and President Khama who were at the helm of the talks and willing to let bygones be bygones.  At that time, Khama advised Bakgatla to negotiate with the plaintiffs for the withdrawal of the charges and Kgafela agreed but later changed his mind, preferring the court route.