15 May 2017

Residents of Lotlhakane East in the Southern District recently breathed a sigh of relief after a consensus was reached to recommend Naledi Ramotswaiso as the suitable heir to assume the reigns of the village leadership.
Residents who came in their droves filled to bursting Lotlhakane East kgotla to witness the finality of what has been a long-drawn-out chieftainship row that had pitted the families of Makaba and Mosweu against each other.
The duo had each advanced various and compelling reasons why their candidates should be considered rightful claimants to the position which fell vacant following retirement of Kgosi Searobi Searobi.
Mosweu family had pinned their hopes on Naledi Ramotswaiso, while Makaba family wanted MmaMoragane Makaba to be elevated to the position.
In the previous meeting, Kgosi Daniel Mathiba of Mmathethe who was presiding over the matter, had asked residents to decide and present to him the name of a suitable heir apparent which he will then forward to Kgosi Malope II for consideration.

Things however took a different twist after the name of Naledi Ramotswaiso was submitted to Kgosi Mathiba, an issue that did not sit down well with the Makaba family because they claimed they were never involved in the matter. They felt the name was imposed on them.
“We were stunned to hear through news media that the people of Lotlhakane East had reached a consensus to endorse Naledi Ramotswaiso as the heir apparent to the chieftainship,” lamented Kgosi Malebogo Makaba in an apparent display of frustration.

She said that Kgosi Mathiba had gone back on the initial arrangement to have her bring the two families together in a bid to reach a common ground and agree on the way forward; something Kgosi Mathiba dismissed as not true.
“I have never at any point asked you to bring the two families together. What is believable though is that I had upon leaving the kgotla in the previous meeting demanded that the name of a suitable candidate be decided upon and tendered to me,” he said.
 In addition, Kgosi Mathiba  told the bustling kgotla that after that he was visited by a delegation from Lotlhakane East who gave him the name of Naledi Ramotswaiso; something he reluctantly presumed was representative of the two groups.

Thus Kgosi Mathiba said the Tuesday meeting was called purposefuly to present the Makaba family with a platform to voice their grievances and get to the bottom of the matter once and for all.
However, Kgosi Malebogo Makaba stunned everybody when she stated that MmaMoragane Makaba has had a change of heart on the matter and was no longer contesting for the position.
At that point Kgosi Mathiba did not see any reason why the matter could not be brought an end; something that was readily embraced by residents who said the matter had not only dragged for far too long but had stalled developments. ENDS