Mahatma Gandhi once said “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win”. Even in self-imposed exile, Kgosi Kgolo Kgafela Kgafela II of the Bakgatla ba Kgafela tribe continues to make newspaper headlines here in Botswana and in South Africa where he resides. We all are aware of that (in) famous interview held at Duma Fm and the subsequent development that followed there after driven by ill-motives and the intension to punish and showcase who the real master is. I first posited this article in early January 2016 and in there I made some claims that many do not wish to see the current impasse regarding the Kgafela saga and the state coming to an end. The state too is taking a cosmetic approach, dilly dallying and playing hide and seek and not coming forthright in bringing this matter to a close – once and for all.
Their egos are clouding their judgements to meet the demands made by Bakgatla ba Kgafela in their petition they submitted to state. The thinking is that once they drop all the pending charges it will seem as victory to the Bakgatla ba Kgafela and their King. Kgosi Kgolo Kgafela “The Great” has seen them all. He has had his plan of uniting and bringing together his tribe for a common goal and purpose being hijacked and crumbled. This is because his project rubbed some jealous politicians the wrong way and some even went to the extent of making reckless and insensitive remarks with deliberate intensions to sow seed of discord more especially against the Bakgatla ba Kgafela. The upsurge in popular protests against Bakgatla project to reclaim their dignity was viewed with great suspicion that culminated in a series of legal suits against him, his tribesmen and other senior royals. Who will ever forget the then Regional Magistrate Barnabas Nyamadzabo judgement? After he committed King Kgafela Kgafela II, his younger brother Morena Mmusi together with other Bakgatla ba Kgafela royals and tribesmen for remand pending their trial, one legal eagle remarked: “This will be ajudgment long remembered with shame and as one of the most discreditable affairs in the history of our judicial system of this land.”
What is wrong with our judicial system? He asked. “This is criminal and we cannot let this rot continue. A man must be hanged for his wrong doings but justice must be fair. What I have witnessed today is the worst crime ever in the history of our judicial system and god forbid, I may have to hang my robe and trade it with something else. Not this!!! Never before as a practicing lawyer has I ever witnessed a presiding magistrate assume the role of a prosecutor and sentencing someone on the basis of hearsay and on newspaper articles. If the judiciary will dispense injustice by handing down perverted pieces of judgment which smack of subverting the people’s government’ then this is the saddest day in our judicial system indeed.” King Kgafela Kgafela II’s remand in custody was met with great excitement.
No one wanted to miss the historic moments and many people did not want to be outdone. The youthful Kgosi became a subject of debate after introducing reforms in Kgatleng that had a positive outlook. Amongst the many positive reforms that King Kgafela II introduced is the spirit of selfÔÇôreliance, respect amongst one another and elders, moral regeneration and re-introduction of traditional initiation rites (Bogwera & Bojale). All these must be noted that King Kgafela Kgafela II introduced after he was given the mandate by his tribe to do so. Ironically the reforms introduced by Kgafela in Kgatleng were reflected in the recommendations passed by the Puso Commission, the Presidential Task Force that was set up by President Ian Khama in 2008. As part of the recommendations, Dikgosi were tasked with re-introducing traditional initiation rites in all their communities as this has been helpful in instilling discipline, peer education and up-bringing of their children and could be done during the school holidays. King Kgafela Kgafela II is however a good and honest man who unfortunately was made to walk through a tight political rope. King Kgafela Kgafela II is a visionary. He is a hero and simply a trend setter who was misunderstood mainly by some jealous politicians. The primary intensions of the jealous politicians were mainly to cut the kings wings.
They failed to engage him and saw his initiatives as a threat and competing with their own. However, against this back ground, it appears finally the State and Bakgatla ba Kgafela will finally to reach to a common understanding. Recently Hon Slumber Tsogwane was in Kgatleng at the Bakgatla ba Kgafela kgotla to deliver to the tribe the findings of the Malope Commission, so we were made to believe. Unlike the arrogance displayed by his former colleagues who also attempted to intervene on the matter, Slumber was calm, diplomatic and sober in his deliberations. Although Slumber’s report was received differently by different people with some suggesting that Slumber should have not even wasted his time to come to Kgatleng, since he brought with him an empty bag full of empty promises and just playing the day to day rhetoric of politicians, there is however an element of hope. Like the many who attended the Kgotla meeting, I also do not know what is that Slumber had gone to do at the Bakgatla ba Kgafela Kgotla. I still do not know and perhaps Slumber will elaborate even further in his next to address to the Bakgatla. Was he there to deliver the Malope Commission Report or to tell us about the State position on the petition that was presented two years ago or what?. Slumber failed dismally to tell the Bakgatla about the findings of the Malope Commission and relate it to the terms of reference and to share with Bakgatla recommendations made thereof. He again decided to take cover by hiding behind his fingers and brought in something new, that KK KK has been in touch with the Office of the State President and soon Dr Khama will be dispatching some delegation to Moruleng.
So What? The Bakgatla were told one side of the story and even Kgosi Kgolo Malope was nowhere to be seen. The focus and attention was merely on the demands presented in the petition and even then the response did not give concrete answers to those demands. Slumber must talk to these first and only then Bakgatla ba Kgafela will remain convinced that indeed the State is willing to see an end to the impasse and a long lasting solution established. Other than that what appears now is some of an agenda that the State has and reasons best known to them. It is too good to be true and hope Slumber will not slumber on the State vs Bakgatla ba Kgafela issues and a long lasting solution established. One can only wish and hope all these will be resolved within a set time frame before Mollo wa Kgolagano o tla Kgatleng. Just saying. *Thabo Lucas Seleke writes from Selibe Phikwe
