22 Aug 2023

Kgosi Mosadi Seboko of Balete has been advised to call lebatla to iron the issue stemming from her decision to annul the bogwera ceremony this year.

A part of the morafe called Ba Ntlhayagodimo tribesmen did not take the decision lightly as they launched an urgent application seeking an order to recognise it's entitlement to conduct bogwera.

Last week Tuesday, a High Court Judge handed down judgement striking out the application instituted with costs.

In a kgotla meeting on Monday the MP for Ramotswa, Mr Lefoko Moagi said in terms of Setswana traditions of a kgotla system it was necessary for Kgosi as the custodian of Setswana culture to call the warring factions to a kgotla meeting to get to the bottom of the matter.

He said as village leadership they had taken the issue seriously and would be interested if an open dialogue was instituted for both parties to air their views and given audience.

Mr Moagi said he also advised the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Kgotla Autlwetse to consult Balete leadership to learn about the matter from the horses' mouth.

Kgosi Mosadi said she was embarrassed by the decision by part of her morafe to air their internal matters publicly.

She said the decision to go to courts was unnecessary as the matter could have been discussed internally.

Kgosi Mosadi said she made an announcement for the suspension of bogwera during a culture day ceremony due to varying logistics.

She told morafe that she consulted with tribal leadership on the matter and even sent some people to make the announcement on the suspension.

Kgosi Mosadi explained that she understood the impact of the initiation schools and also advocated for it's revival when she was installed as kgosi of Balete.

She said she only calls for the process to be conducted in terms of set procedures of tradition.

Kgosi Mosadi said she was humiliated by those who undermined her authority, which was an offense and went ahead with the ceremony.

Those who made comments during the meeting were worried that the matter had the potential to divide morafe. Some felt it was not necessarily the Ntlhayagodimo part of the village but a few unscrupulous individuals. ends