26 Jun 2023

Residents of Mabolwe have called for appointment of a kgosi for their village and upgrading of their kgotla so that it gets a deputy chief who will act in the absence of the substantive kgosi.

Speaking during a kgotla meeting addressed by their Member of Parliament, Mr Taolo Lucas, on Thursday, the residents expressed concerns over lack of a kgosi, saying their village has been suffering for the past three years.

Residents also claimed that kgosi Isaiah Madema of Semolale, who served their village in the meantime, was overwhelmed by being a custodian of three villages of Mabolwe, Semolale and Gobojango (MASEGO).

The two villages of Gobojango and Mabolwe are without their tribal leaders for various reasons. According to kgosi Madema who explained the situation briefly to BOPA, the contract of the then Mabolwe chief elapsed and he applied for renewal. However, kgosi Madema said the renewal was turned down due to age.

In Gobojango, kgosi Madema explained, the village chief was on suspension on a matter that was job related. As a result, kgosi Madema traverses between the three MASEGO villages albeit without an official vehicle.

“We request the concerned parties to help us have a kgosi who will help us with tribal issues on a daily basis rather than relying on kgosi Madema who is seemingly overwhelmed by these three villages,” said Mabolwe village development committee chairman Mr Khimble Malesela.

The residents alleged that in order for kgosi Madema to travel to their village he first must have gotten approval from tribal administration in Bobonong.

Kgosi Madema partially confirmed his subjects’ claims saying he did not have a vehicle to service the three villages he was currently overseeing.

“All these three are big villages that each requires own kgosi on a daily basis.

Some people from Gobojango and Mabolwe have resorted to commuting from their villages for my services in Semolale,” said kgosi Madema who was worried of being labelled a failure, consequent of too much workload.

In response to the concerns, an official from tribal administration, Bobonong, Mr Mmoloki Nogeng was surprised that there was no arrangement for kgosi Madema to smoothly discharge his duties.

“Expectation has been that the kgosi should use his private vehicle and gets compensated for mileage covered,” said Mr Nogeng.

Mr Nogeng said that the transport situation was not only peculiar to MASEGO region, but was also troubling for Tsetsebjwe kgosi who also served Moletemane.

The residents also complained about an ambulance that services their area. More often, it was broken down. ENDS