07 Dec 2022

Rakops traditional leadership has been accused of seemingly being hell-bent on using the headman of record vacancy to cause unrest in the village.

Addressing a meeting in Rakops recently, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Kgotla Autlwetse there was no cooperation among the village elders and that the leadership was the root cause of the prevailing sorry state of affairs.

Saying he was disheartened by the state of affairs in Rakops which had the potential to tarnish the village’s image, the minister said he was saddened by reports that people from other villages also had a hand in trying to cause unrest in the village.

Mr Autlwetse said there were allegations that some candidates for the position trafficked people from other villages to vote for them

No one was allowed to vote for a chief in a village they were not a resident of, he explained.

Attempts to fill the position have failed twice with the two-time winner, Mr Ditshego Ramakhubu, being rejected after every election.

Minister Autlwetse said it had emerged that consultation and communication on filling the position was not done procedurally.

 He stated that it had been agreed that the date for elections for filling the position as well as procedures and eligibility for taking part would be communicated ahead of time.

As to whether village development committee members could also vote, he said as residents of Rakops there was nothing barring them from participating.

 Headmen of arbitration were similarly allowed to vote, he explained.

Mr Autlwetse explained that the elected candidate would not automatically be appointed but would be subjected to vetting.

The minister promised residents that he would respond in writing as to whether they would be afforded another opportunity to choose  a headman of record as two previous attempts to fill the vacancy had failed.

Should they fail to reach consensus, Mr Autlwetse said, he would be compelled to use the powers vested in him to make the appointment himself.

   He stressed that the sanctity of bogosi must be protected at all times by among others keeping the institution free from political influence.

Saying a line must be drawn between bogosi and politics, the minister said that would ensure peace and stability within communities.

The ministry’s deputy permanent secretary Ms Onalenna Sechele quoted the Bogosi Act as saying people participating in the selection of a chief should be residents of the village where the vacancy existed.

Ms Sechele told residents to choose between reaching a common understanding on their ideal candidate and the minister choosing a kgosi for them.

A resident, Mr Gaboinewe Ngande said bogosi in Rakops was characterised by factions, tribalism and discrimination.

Another resident, Ms Nkgowa Utlwang confirmed that some residents of neighbouring villages such as Xere and Toromoja were ferried  to Rakops to vote in the elections.

Headmen of arbitration Messrs Thomas Majashango and Gorutwamang Kelaotswe said they were among the people who wrote to the minister protesting against of Mr Ramakhubu’s appointment.

Mr Majashango said as residents of Rakops they wanted the appointment to be carried out through consultation led by the village leadership.

While not divulging the details of the letter of protest, Mr Kelaotswe said some residents felt strongly about the winner’s suitability and moved to prevent his possible ascension to the position. Ends