The spokesperson of the First People of the Kalahari (FPK), Jamunda Gakelebone, says that though he was happy with the outcome of their appeal case, he was not willing to celebrate yet because he had learnt from experience that the government might not comply with the Court orders as it has done in the past.
Speaking outside the Lobatse High Court buildings after the judgment that gave the CKGR residents permission to, amongst other things, drill boreholes in the reserve if they so wish and at their expense, Gakelebone said that the government has, in the past, been ordered to give the residents of the reserve permits to hunt animals in the reserve but that it has up to now not complied with that order.
”This is the reason I am not going to celebrate yet,” Gakelebone said. He thanked Survival International for their help, saying that he has no doubt that if it was not for the international organisation, they would not have achieved what they did.
”SI are our friends; they came to our assistance in time of need when our government had abandoned us, thirsty and hungry,” he stressed.
Gakelebone said those who have been criticizing SI, saying it was meddling in the country’s domestic affairs, were ignoring the fact that it had helped them against a government which intended to make them go thirsty and hungry.
”Those who are accusing SI do not know what they are talking about. SI has fought on our side when the government, our own government, had abandoned us,” he said.
Asked where he would be going after leaving Lobatse, he said he was going straight to his home in the CKGR to break the news to his people, though he stressed that he would not be celebrating when doing so because he does not trust that the government will abide by the Court orders.
On whether he will obtain a permit to enter the reserve as required, he asked rhetorically, “Why should I obtain a permit to go home when others do not do so when going to their homes of Serowe and Goodhope? No, I will not obtain a permit as I will be going home.”
Gakelebone is currently under investigations for entering the reserve without a permit. He said the investigations, which have been confirmed by wildlife officers in Gants, will not deter him from going to CKGR.
“I will go home, with or without the on-going investigations,” he maintained.
