The history of Bakgatla royals is the history of flight. A considerable number of them have been in flight, in particular from what they perceive as injustice or they have been chased away by their opponents. There are the common tribal splits, characteristic of Batswana in general, which were a consequence of many factors, amongst these being droughts which made subsistence difficult and family feuds which mad co-existence impossible. It is no wonder then that Tlou and Campbell (1997:96) have characterised the history of Batswana thus: “This is the history of the Batswana: groups of people splitting up and then other groups joining together.” Bakgatla ba ga Kgafela have not always lived in what is modern Mochudi. In the late 1800s they lived in Pilanesberg around Rustenburq. Their Kgosi at the time was one Kgamanyane. The Bakgatla were a large and successful group who traded extensively with the Boers. They provided labour to the Boers and worked as their cattle herders. Andre Croucamp and Bea Roberts write that the Bakgatla “also assisted the Boers in raids on other tribes, which meant sharing in the profits, being exempt from high taxes, and, importantly, unlike other groups in the area, that they were allowed to keep guns.”
This Bakgatla extended interaction with the Boers explains in part the Afrikaans linguistic influence amongst the Bakgatla. However, in the late 1860s the relations between the Boers and the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela deteriorated. Where they lived was hit hard by sustained drought resulting with the death of thousands of cattle and crop failure. At the time the Boer Commandant, Paul Kruger had been appointed Commandant-General of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR) and possessed wide-ranging powers over dikgosi in the area. Increasingly the relationship between the Boers farmers was tense and was worsening daily. Work on the Boer farms was also back-breaking. It was only a matter of time before a major battle ensued between the Bakgatla and the Boers. Around the year 1870 Kruger demanded that Kgosi Kgamanyane provide him with free labour for the building of a dam. Kgamanyane was to supply Kruger with men who would pull carts loads of rocks. Kgamanyane refused. This refusal incensed Kruger. Kgamanyane had to be put in his place. Together with the entire morafe Kgamanyane had to be taught a lesson that insubordination will not be tolerated. Kruger flogged Kgamanyane in public. Kgamanyane was humiliated and his morafe was deeply angered and stunned. The Boers were also offended and felt that perhaps they had been too soft with the Bakgatla. Perhaps these Bakgatla were becoming too comfortable & God forbid, they were beginning to think they were equal to the Boers. The Boers made further demands. Bakgatla had to start paying taxes and give up their guns. The relationship between the Boers and the Bakgatla had grown too hostile. There was no way that the Kgosi could co-exist with the Boers. Kgamanyane fled from Moruleng with many of his followers, and headed north towards what is now modern Botswana. He settled in Bakwena territory in a place called Motshodi in 1871. Flowing flogging, the Kgatla royal was in flight.
Because Kgosi Molefi was too young man to become Kgosi, his uncle Isang Pilane became a regent ÔÇô ya nna motsharelela bogosi. But after he became Kgosi he was given too much to excessive drinking. He loved to party and loved fast cars. He was seen generally as an irresponsible Kgosi. He was suspended from bogosi and banished from Kgatleng by Rey. He fled and ended up in Segeng amongst the Bangwaketse. Another Kgatla royal was in flight.
Queen Seingwaeng, mother of Kgosi Molefi fought for the restoration of her son. She joined the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) in 1938 and together with the ZCC, which was perceived as a threat to the Dutch Reformed Church, campaigned for the removal of Isang Pilane, the regent, and the reinstatement of Kgosi Molefi who was on exile. In a strange twist of events, after the reinstatement of Molefi to bogosi, Seingwaeng and the Zionists who had fought for the return of Kgosi Molefi were now seen as a political threat by Molefi and the ruling elite. They were expelled from Kgatleng. Kgosi Molefi committed something that was unheard of amongst the Batswana. Just as Paul Kruger flogged Kgosi Kgamanyane in public, Kgosi Molefi flogged his own mother in public. She was about sixty four years of age. Seingwaeing with a group of Zionists were bundled into a lorry and sent out of Motshodi. Another Kgatla royal was in flight after being flogged.
It is now 2013 and matters seem to have taken a full circle. While Kgosi Kgamanyane fled from South Africa to Motshodi, it appears Kgosi Kgafela has fled to South Africa from Motshodi. Kgamanyane was opposed to the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek expectation on him. Kgafela is completely opposed to the Botswana government’s definition of a kgosi. The Bogosi Act defines a Kgosi as an individual who (a) possesses such minimum educational qualifications as may be prescribed from time to time; (b) has been designated as Kgosi under section 6; and (c) is recognised as a Kgosi by the Minister in accordance with the provisions of sections 6 and 21. Kgosikgolo Kgafela II was derecognised by Hon. Lebonaamang Mokalake, Minister of Local Government on 28th October 2011 as provided for in the Bogosi Act of 2008. Kgafela was derecognised for having (a) frustrated Government efforts to consult and communicate with Kgatleng community on developmental issues that affect the community; (b) abused his powers by ordering Dikgosana in Kgatleng to ignore and frustrate Ministers’ efforts in their bid to hold meetings in Kgatleng District; and (c) incited Dikgosana to be insubordinate and refuse to carry-out lawful orders from Ministers. Minister Mokalake therefore took a decision to invoke the provisions of Section 15 of the Bogosi Act, Chapter 41:01, in the public interest, to de-recognise Kgosi Kgafela II with immediate effect. Section 15 of the Bogosi Act which Mokalake invoked states that: “The Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, at any time, withdraw recognition from a Kgosi if (a) the Kgosi has been deposed and his or her appeal against the deposition has been dismissed or the period allowed for appealing has elapsed without an appeal having been brought; or (b) the Minister considers it to be in the public interest to withdraw recognition.” Mokalake has considered it “to be in the public interest to withdraw recognition”.
Just as it has been in the past, this time around there have also been floggings. Pastors were flogged by mephato. One pregnant woman received some serious beating together with her lover.
There seems to be a pattern of floggings and flight in Kgatleng.
