20 May 2025

Bogosi is a sacred institute that must be properly protected, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs Mr Ignatius Moswaane has said.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Letlhakeng on Monday, Mr Moswaane said conflict over bogosi comes as a result that royal families fail to identify successors as everyone claims bogosi. 

He appealed to traditional leaders to have succession plans to enable the community to appoint their dikgosi without conflicts.

He was in the village to source their ideas over the amendment of Bogosi and Customary Court Acts. 

Residents welcomed the consultants with some saying the Tribal Territories Act must be amended alongside Bogosi Act.

Letlhakeng Council chairperson Mr Morgan Mokgwathi urged Letlhakeng residents to fully participate in the consultations saying he does not agree that Letlhakeng should be under Kweneng Tribal Territory. 

He said it would not be proper for their Kgosi Kgolo to be under Kgosi Kgari III of Bakwena, adding they should also have their own tribal territory, independent from Kweneng.

Mr Kagiso Letlamma concurred that they should be independent from Kweneng, adding that dikgosi should not be appointed through the ballot box like politicians, as it was not tradition. Residents said their Kgosi should not be given title of Moemela Kgosi because he represented a tribe that was independent from Bakwena.

One resident, Mr Basima Magono complained that headmen were appointed for them. 

He further raised concern about engaging lawyers in customary courts, saying most dikgosi were not familiar with the legal world and therefore lawyers should not be allowed.

He said people already had a choice to opt for trial either in customary or in magistrate courts. 

Mr Phenyo Rabodulape said dikgosi should work on a full time basis saying cases remained unresolved as they work for few hours.  Area MP, Domcaza Mokgwathi welcomed the consultants saying this was in line with the government’s vision to build human rights centred country. ENDS