25 Jun 2014

Ntlo ya Dikgosi has adopted a motion calling for government to consider engaging the services of an organisation and methods (O&M) transformation consultant to restructure the department of tribal administration.

Motivating his motion, Kgosi Maruje III of North East Region said he brought the motion after learning that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development was undergoing restructuring though tribal administration was not privy to the exercise as neither employees nor dikgosi had ever been consulted.

He, however, said while he was not against the current exercise that included all departments of the ministry, Kgosi Maruje III said he felt there was dire need to also do an independent and radical organisation and method transformation of the tribal administration as the department was huge and facing many challenges which impeded service delivery.

Kgosi Maruje III, who was overwhelmingly supported by other members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi, said the exercise will look at the process of changing the management which will ultimately bring about desired results for now and future generation.

He said where people are not taken on board on major changes; it would be difficult for them to fully appreciate what they are required of.

He said tribal administration is far lacking behind despite the fact that it has been in existence time immemorial and continues to play a critical role in the administration of this country with limited resources and semi-skilled personnel.

He lamented that at the moment the Dikgosi do not have any executive powers as all powers are vested on tribal secretaries and is not even involved in planning and budgeting.

With these facts before the consultants, he said, they will be able to compare and contract as well as look at the background and current status of tribal administration.

According to Kgosi Maruje III, he believes the ministry and the minister are not fully informed of what is taking place at tribal administration centres across the country, noting that the chief’s position in the village is currently not well understood.

In addition he said people and the government do not have clear knowledge of what meetings can be hosted at the kgotla as this scenario played itself during the public service strike where conflicting savingrams were written barring some meetings to be held at the kgotla.


At the moment, he said there is conflict between bogosi and politics as revealed by BIDPA report on bogosi, adding there is a need for a neutral person to restructure tribal administration which will ascertain its position and also see how best it could offer services efficiently and cut costs of running the department.

He said restructuring is not just about improvement on salaries of employees, but all component of workplace need to be considered and these include proper office accommodation, funding and budgetary, resource mobilisation, timely service delivery, accountability and progression of employees among others.

Supporting the motion, Kgosi Basiamang Garebakwena of Molepolole Region said this timely motion seek to address issues which will make an enabling atmosphere for expeditious delivery and also transfer some services which could better be offered by other department as well as take some from such departments.

Other Dikgosi who supported the motion included Kgosi Mwakaupika Seemeko, Kea Lempadi, David Toto II, Oreagetse Machilidza and Moeti Moeti II who said at the moment Dikgosi do not have powers though this country is where it is because of dikgosi.

They wondered why the ministry has an ongoing restructuring exercise which they are not privy to though this country supports and encourages the spirit of consultation as one of its founding principles.

They also believed that should there be Organisation and Method exercise for the department, most anomalies would be flushed out and inherit a brand new structure and way which will conform to the 21^st century.

In his response, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Peter Siele said he will ensure that Dikgosi get the report of the ministry’s O&M exercise before it could be taken to cabinet for consideration. He also said he had acknowledged their concern that the district commissioner, land board and council offices are far much better resourced and seems to be superior to them.

“Since I have listened to your debate, I am not violently opposing the motion because it is a request that I consider fair and will see how to deal with it,” he said. In addition, the Minister said as political superintendent of the ministry, he has taken all the concern and promised that most issues will be dealt with.  ENDS