18 Jan 2022

Preparations for the funeral of the late Bakgatla-ba-ga-Kgafela queen Mother, Mohumagadi MmaSeingwaeng, are ongoing.

Royal family uncle, Kgosi Mothibe Linchwe said the date of the burial had not been finalised, but that the family would be meeting to decide the burial arrangement befitting the queen as well as burial date.

Messages of condolences continued to pour in from across the world and from people of all walks, he said, following the announcement of the death of MmaSeingwang who died at Sidilega Hospital in Gabororone at the age of 79.

Kgosi Mothibe said Bakgatla and Batswana would be updated about prayer services and any expected procedure for mourning the queen mother.

Kgosi Mothibe said MmaSeingwaeng lived a remarkable life with Bakgatla since her marriage to Kgosi Linchwe in 1966.

“She was a custodian of Bakgatla culture and remained a torch bearer for bojale,” he said.

Under her son, Kgosikgolo Kgafela, the tribe revived the age-old traditional rite of passage to womanhood, arousing a great deal of nostalgia among the old.  

Kgosi Mothibe said MmaSeingwaeng worked with other royal family members and the wives of Bakgatla headmen to align them with traditions of Sekgatla.

A member of the Lethulwa women regiment, Ms Reginah Pone said the queen mother had passion for people and that her death was a big loss to the community.

“Thisa moment of sadness for Bakgatla and Batswana in general as we mourn the passing on of MmaSeingwaeng,” she said.

She described her as a person who had made it her aim to uplift the lives of others.

“MmaSeingwaeng was really born a queen because her heart was for the people more than anything.

She wanted everyone around her to be happy.

We have lost a mother and we are crying because we have lost a very strategic thinker and leader.

It is very sad,” she said.

This was one very orderly queen-mother who believed a woman should dress appropriately.

“Once we were invited to State House for an event.  

She made it her point to inspect every woman in her entourage ensuring they had dressed appropriately.”

Not only was she particular about dress.

“She was very strict when it came to hygiene.  

She taught us that cleanliness had nothing to do with a big house.

Even your little house and its surrounding must be kept clean,” she said.

Another royal family member, Ms Ruth Linchwe said MmaSeingwaeng remained the tribe’s pillar following the death of Kgosi Linchwe II, and maintained her strong support of the rich culture of Kgatleng.

“She will be remembered for her huge contribution to the success of Kgosi Linchwe’s reign,” she said, adding that it was the harmony of their marriage that was crucial to the success of the kgosi’s reign.

“As you know, behind every successful man there is a woman, and there was MmaSeingwaeng,” she added.

The queen mother is survived by four children – a daughter, three sons, daughters in law and grandchildren. ENDS