17 Feb 2014

Kgosi Gobuamang Gobuamang II of Thamaga has appealed to the youth in his village to take responsibility and be motivated to volunteer in village projects.

Kgosi Gobuamang II said the few people that volunteered usually wanted payments therefore, he urged his people to take stand and help to build up Thamaga selflessly.

He also said it baffled him that when he called kgotla meetings, same few people attended and those that usually absconded would then critic the decisions taken during such meetings.

Kgosi Gobuamang II said this at a kgotla meeting in Thamaga, when informing and giving the community feedback about the procedure that would be used to elect and choose members to form a new trust.

He stated that the trust would be acting as an interim committee that would run the project of the new mall, proposed to be developed at the old place for Thamaga Native Recruiting Company.

Councillor for Thamaga West, Mr Molatedi Selala said the village authorities had taken the responsibility of choosing members of the trust as an intervention of the failure that was caused by old committees.

Councilor Selala revealed that 10 professional, well-known and quality members would be elected and their contract would run for a year without payments, as that would be voluntary work. He said the community of Thamaga had been longing to develop NRC in to a mall for many years but failed due to lack of money.

Councillor Selala also clarified that the mall would be a community property therefore, a Trust would act as a legal person and would be negotiating on behalf of the community and giving timely reports

“A delegation from Hard-Rock Investment Company came at a time when we needed them. They proposed to develop NRC for Bakgatla ba ga Mmanaana and as a result we believed that forming a Trust would be the best way of running the negotiations with whoever would be interested in doing the same,” Councillor Selala explained.

Councillor Selala clarified that there are no agreements with Hard-Rock Investment as the community was not prepared and therefore, asked for some time so that the community deal with the issue of forming a Trust that would run negotiations professionally.

When commenting, one of the attendants, Patrick Rebatenne commended those in power for acting up on time and said people have to be a team for the sake of progression.

“The reason why Thamaga is left behind in developments is because whenever good things come to us we reject them. Let us stop being self centered and hope for the best,” Rebatenne urged.

However, one community member, Mokgobo Moshagana declared her disapproval saying those in power are bound to favor themselves and that she wonders why the VDCs would be added as members of the new Trust while they have failed to deliver in the past.

The other attendant, Tiro Lepotokisi also complained about the conclusion of coming with such a small number of people for the interim committee and that the matter is sensitive therefore, compels the community to be fully involved.

When responding to the comments, Deputy Paramount Chief, Segale Gobuamang clarified that those who took part in choosing the names are excluded and that VDC members are to be added, as they are involved in community developments already.

Deputy Paramount Chief Gobuamang said the elected members would be watched for a year if they do not deliver they would be dissolved.

Councillor Selala also responded asking the community to bear with the chieftaincy for once as they have elected many committees.

“All I’m asking is to give the village authorities this chance. You also have to know that as a leader sometimes if you see that things are taking a wrong turn you have to take responsibility of your position and take measures,” he added.

In conclusion, Kgosi Gobuamang II said the village authorities shall meet and come up with names that would form a Trust and another kgotla meeting shall be called to announce the committee. ENDS