27 Nov 2023

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has approved appointment of individuals to fill vacant posts of deputy paramount chief, senior chief’s representative and chief’s representative at Batawana Tribal Administration.

This followed the retirement of deputy chief, Kgosi Bringle Dithapo in August, while the senior chief’s representative post fell vacant in 2021 following the retirement of Kgosi Charles Letsholathebe.

Kgosi Tawana Moremi of Batawana told a packed kgotla meeting on November 22 that the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development had approved the names of former regent, Kgosi Kealetile Moremi for the post of deputy chief, Kgosi Oleyo Ledimo who has been elevated to the position of senior chief’s representative while Kgosi Leretetse Mogalakwe was promoted to the position of chief’s representative.

Following the approval of the names, he said it was procedural to convene a meeting to inform the community that their preferred candidates had been given the green light.

The community had in a previous meeting unanimously supported Kgosi Tawana’s decision to appoint former regent Kgosi Kealetile to be his deputy, advancing that she had been in the office for 20 years and served the community effectively.

They also proposed that those in office be promoted to fill other vacant posts.

Kgosi Tawana disclosed that the promotion of Kgosi Mogalakwe had opened another vacancy in the post of headman of record which he said would be looked into in the next meeting.

The majority of residents who spoke thanked Kgosi Tawana for maintaining the legacy of his father and forefathers citing that they believed in proper consultation on issues of interest to the community.
They welcomed the new appointments and assured the three officials of support.

One of the residents, Mr Benson Kuti said hailed Kgosi Tawana , describing him as a true leader who believed in consultation which he said was the cornerstone of democracy.

“As the community, we promise to respect and rally behind you as leaders. We will continue to respect bogosi institution so that it does not lose its integrity,” he added.

Kgosi Cosmos Lelatlhego also thanked Kgosi Tawana for always consulting the tribe on issues of importance saying that resonated  with the idiom that, ‘Kgosi ke kgosi ka batho’ whose essence was that a leader must act in accordance with the will of the people.  He said this placed a responsibility on the leaders to be accountable to those they led.

Kgosi Kealetile thanked her brother for recommending her appointment to be his deputy. ENDS