11 Nov 2014

Lesenepole residents have lost a case in which they challenged the appointment of Mr Ikalafeng Senwedi as Matolwane kgosi.

The decision to appoint Mr Senwedi came about after three wards Raphiri, Matoposane and Moremi chose him whilst Lesenepole ward chose Mr Lenyeletse Kebuamotse. Matolwane village is made up of four wards.

Presiding over the matter at Matolwane kgotla over the weekend, Kgosi Daniel Mathiba of Ngwaketse said he was sent to preside over the matter subsequent to a letter that was written to the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development by Lesenepole residents complaining about the appointment of Mr Senwedi.

Kgosi Mathiba asked the two sides to present their case. Representing Lesenepole residents, Mr Tshokolo Phuthego said Lesenepole was the official name of the village not the name Matolwane as it was the case.

He said two years ago after the death of Kgosi Gabolekane Mokgobelelo, Bangwato regent Kgosi Sediegeng Kgamane came to their village to ask the four headmen representing the four wards to choose a leader amongst themselves who will take over as kgosi.

He said at Lesenepole, the residents chose Mr Lenyeletse Kebuamotse whilst the other wards chose Mr Ikalafeng Senwedi. Mr Phuthego said he and other Lesenepole residents were shocked to hear that Mr Senwedi had been appointed.

He said since there were two names submitted, voting could had been the best method used to choose amongst the two names. He said therefore the decision taken by Kgosi Kgamane was unfair and not in line with Bogosi Act, adding that Kgosi Kgamane had no right to choose a kgosi for them.

Kgosi Mathiba asked him to state why he preferred Mr Kebuamotse over Mr Senwedi, and Mr Phuthego stated that Mr Kebuamotse’s great grandparents had ruled Lesenepole village at the time when the village was independent.

For his part, Mr Jacob Mothowaeng of Matolwane side said none of the four wards could claim ownership of the village chieftainship because there were four groups which ran their affairs independently.

He said when the four came together to form one village, they came up with one village name called Matolwane, the name that had long been objected by Lesenepole residents who preferred the name Lesenepole.

Mr Mothowaeng said Mr Senwedi was chosen on the basis that he had been working closely with the late Kgosi Mokgobelelo at the main kgotla and often assigned to do some tasks by the kgosi.

However Lesenepole residents reiterated that he might had been at the kgotla most of the time but he did nothing. They said therefore voting would work best on this issue.

After submissions from the two sides, Mr Mathiba said a mistake had been made at the beginning not to establish a kgotla that had no ownership or heirs. He said the community would have let themselves down if they use the ballot to choose the village kgosi.

It would be improper for Kgosi Sediegeng to appoint someone outside the four communities constituting Matolwane village, he added.  Finally, he made a decision that Mr Senwedi be appointed kgosi instead of Mr Kebuamotse, the decision that was not accepted by Lesenepole residents.

After that decision, some Lesenepole residents stormed out of the kgotla before the meeting ended. ENDS