11 Nov 2015

A quintessential leader he was, kgosi Wabobedi Mompati was eulogized to the level of immortality recently during a farewell ceremony organised for him at the village kgotla.

Not only was kgosi Mompati immortalized but was also likened to a savior especially by the multitudes he had rescued even beyond the borders of his territory. 

That did not only endear him to his people but also to the general populace of the Ngwato territory especially at the villages where he presided on issues of bogosi (chieftainship) and other civil matters.

It was his successes and the respect he commands that his deputy Opelo Disang, though not in a cowardice act, felt that kgosi Mompati’s shoes were too big to fill. He did not only express his fear for a looming comparison to the people’s man but he also shed tears albeit of joy at the lessons he derived from the community leader who led his people for a successful 34 years.

Mr Disang, former Police Officer, worked with the retired kgosi Mompati for an estimated 23 years whereupon the legendary community leader mentored him on dealing with community issues of sheer efficiency. 

His academic credentials may not speak volumes to scholars but the village leader has been described as a visionary man who shunned personal glory at the expense of his subjects. 

“He has been shouldering all the blame and dealing with complicated and equally controversial issues, and his retirement leaves me exposed,” kgosi Disang said in a rather comical expose and told the subjects that he would not join in the festivities as he would be pondering on the future ahead, without kgosi Mompati. 

A boyhood friend of his, one , one Dithuso Gabanakgosi narrated how the two would engage in juvenile acts where at times he attracted the wrath of their handlers. Their notoriety earned the two some boyhood names that threw the multitudes to a roaring laughter. Kgosi Mompati was named Tsotsi apparently for his treachery while Gabanakgosi went by the sobriquet Shorty for his height.

Shorty, as Gabanakgosi was known then narrated how his boyhood friend would hide in the nearby bushes upon realizing that Shorty was with his sisters. According to Shorty, Tsotsi was so shy and timid that he could not even utter a single word to the ladies much to the disappointment of Shorty who wanted his friend ‘to hook up with one of the sisters.’

Gabanakgosi recalled how kgosi Mompati flatly refused to be appointed village chief back then and expressed how he feared for his life, “Nnyaa, le batla go mpolaya.”

For his part, Kgosi Mompati who spent the better part of the day listening to how people immortalized him, expressed his delight at the soothing expressions that befits his long awaited moment of solitude away from the taxing job. 

Despite his people showering him with praises, the soft spoken kgosi boomeranged all the success stories to his people for working closely with him towards developing their village and territories. 

He summed it thus, “Ke ne ke kile kabo kena le leruo mme la phatlalala ka ke ne ke disitse lona,” he said as he parted ways with his subjects.  Ends