30 Jan 2022

Bakgatla queen mother, Ms Kathleen Kgafela fondly known as MmaSeingwaeng was laid to rest at the royal cemetery in Mochudi on Saturday.

MmaSeingwaeng, who died recently at the age of 79, after a short hospitalisation, was the wife to the late Bakgatla Kgosikgolo Linchwe II. 

One of her children Mr Mmusi Kgafela, also Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry spoke on behalf of his siblings and called upon his family to unite and continue the legacy that MmaSeingwaeng left.

He said his mother loved life, respected family and imparted on her children behaviours and traditions that emphasised responsibility, kindness and unity.

“My mother had respect for important traditions, which she tried by all means to see us gather for as a family, such as dinner,” he said.

“I want to use this opportunity to call upon my relatives to respect these family rituals, especially the families of Motsepe and Kgamanyane,” he said.

 He talked about  his mother’s love for cooking and how she would routinely go shopping on Fridays in preparation for her hosting of guests at the royal house, especially when Kgosikgolo Linchwe II was still alive.

Furthermore, Mr Kgafela stated that the queen mother was a people’s person and had created a strong bond between the royal family and her own kin in South Africa, although that was regrettably waning.

Mr Kgafela regretted that not all his siblings were present at their mother’s funeral as Kgosikgolo Kgafela had not managed to come, while Kgosi Bakgatle was in isolation.

He implored Kgosi Kgafela to see to it that Bakgatla as well as his siblings were not left orphaned. 

The queen mother’s friend, Ms Tselane Molomo who sent a written message, described her as a fun-loving person who enjoyed travel and kept travel diaries. 

A representative of the Bakgatla royal house daughters-in-law, Ms Maruapula Pilane said the queen mother taught them independence and cleanliness.

“She had a great sense of humour and was an embodiment of beauty,” she said.

MmaSeingwaeng initiated various community projects and programmes, notably Bakgatla Bolokang Matshelo that cared for the less privileged and the sick and was a patron of Stepping Stones International, she said.

She was also passionate about the wellbeing of disadvantaged groups. 

Ms Pilane said the queen mother worked closely with bojale women’s regiments and was the custodian of the initiation school’s drum.

She also had a special bond with Phuthadikobo Museum, where the drum was kept. 

One of MmaSeingwaeng’s family members from South Africa, Mr Raymond Motsepe commended the queen mother for bringing together the Motsepes and Bakgatla royal house by her marriage to Kgosikgolo Linchwe II.

“MmaSeingwaeng hails from a royal family and she was home away from home here in Botswana,” he said.

He praised her for being instrumental in ensuring safe passage of South Africans who sought refuge in Mochudi and Botswana during the apartheid era.

Kgosi Mothibe Linchwe also praised the queen mother’s selflessness, and  said she remained a pillar of the tribe following the death of her husband. 

He described her as a custodian of Sekgatla culture and that she would be remembered for resuscitating women’s regiments.

MmaSeingwaeng got married to Kgosikgolo Linchwe II in 1966. 

She is survived by four children, namely her eldest daughter Seingwaeng, Kgosikgolo Kgafela, Kgosi Bakgatle and Kgosi Mmusi Kgafela  who is also MP for Mochudi West.

She was a nurse by profession. ends