13 Sep 2016

For decades, bogosi has been one of the most revered institutions in the country.
The holders are showered with praise names such as morena, mong-wa-mmu, mmabatho, and to some extent, the respect they command among their subjects is even close to a cult.
It is one of those few select posts in the civil service that are not relinquished at the mandatory retirement age of 60, with most of them holding post until their eighties for it is believed that the position requires wisdom, which mellows with age.
It is no surprise that when a kgosi retires from office, the whole village stands to bid farewell, and it will be no different and the end of this month when dikgosi in four villages in the Letlhakeng sub-district will be relinquishing their posts on September 30.
These are Kgosi Olebogeng Puleng of Motokwe, Kgosi Sekelere Kgope of Khekhenye, Kgosi Matausu Gaothuse of Tsetseng and Kgosi Tumiso Tsietso of Sesung. The old folks said they were happy with the legacy they were leaving behind.
Kgosi Puleng said since his ascend to the throne on 21 September in 1981, he was happy with what he did efor his village.
“I have been at the helm of this village for 35 years and I have seen and guided it through to what it is today. I am also happy to indicate that I am currently the longest serving kgosi in the sub-district,” he said.
The 81-year-old, who leaves the post as a senior chief’s representative, said had already informed his morafe and Kgosi Kgari Sechele III of Bakwena about his intention to retire.
Whenever a kgosi retires, succession disputes are never far, and Kgosi Puleng said his village was no exception.
 “When I informed the residents of my intention to retire I also informed them that my son would succeed me as is custom, but there are some dissident voices in the village that feel the post should be elected for since they claim I was never the rightful kgosi, something that I vehemently dispute,” he said.
Kgosi Puleng indicated that they were expecting kgosi from Letlhakeng to iron out the issue.
About 64km north west of Motokwe is Tsetseng where Kgosi Gaothuse is also clearing his desk.
Having ascended the office in July 1988, he said consultations on his departure were already done and dusted.
“A few months back I called the royal house and informed them of my intention to retire and that I have identified my eldest daughter to be my successor. At first there was some confusion as it is not common to have women chiefs, but I managed to convince the royal house that my daughter will be replaced by the eldest of my two sons should she vacate office,” he said.
Kgosi Gaothuse also indicated that the morafe was also informed about the decision and welcomed the idea, save for  a few who wanted to lay claimant to the throne.
Closer to Letlhakeng in Sesung, Kgosi Tsietso is the eldest of the leaving white-heads.
Having started as a headman of arbitration in the early eighties, he said he was happy with developments his village experienced during his tenure.
“When I first started in office this village was nothing more than a bush, but through my tenure we managed to have developments such as clinic, kgotla offices, primary school and now the youth are educated,” he said with a clear air of pride in his voice.
After serving as headman of arbitration, Kgosi Tsietso said the village kgotla was later upgraded to court of record in 1985, which automatically elevated him to the post of Headman of Record, the post he retires on.
He said that he has put his son as his successor before his people, and like it now appears the norm, dissenting voices were not far away.
“A few people raised complaints, but the name was nonetheless submitted to the superiors because the majority of the villagers agreed on it, we will wait and see the reaction when the final decision is taken,” he said. ENDS