Government respects the autonomy of the institution of traditional leaders and has no interest in meddling in traditional leadership affairs except to work with legitimate leaders as partners for development of communities, North West Premier Thandi Modise said during the official inauguration of Kgosi Keobusitse Israel Moiloa III as the chief of Bahurutshe Ba-Ga Moiloa Boo Ramotshere in Dinokana near Zeerust on Saturday.
“We have always maintained that the truth will at the end of the day prevail as it always does. Despite misgivings and insults which we had to endure during the process, we had to be thorough and be guided by the principle that in terms of our customs and tradition, the Chieftaincy is determined by birth and not by election nor influenced by politics or friendship. The Chief is not voted into office,” Premier Modise said to thunderous applause and ululation from thousands of Bahurutshe Ba-Ga Moiloa gathered under the hundred year old Nyenye tree at the tribal kgotla during the ceremony.
In presenting the certificate of recognition to Kgosi Moiloa, the Premier said government is simply ratifying the traditional process as chieftaincy is hereditary.
“Thoroughly investigations that took the research team as far as Botswana had to be carried out to prove and disprove some of the claims which were made by parties that were involved in the traditional leadership dispute. It was not a hasty decision that was influenced by populism but by our greatest respect for the institution of traditional leadership,” stressed Premier Modise.
She highlighted that honesty is a paramount attribute that can go a long way in uniting communities.
“If you are a true leader you should be able to say things that must be said even when people don’t want to hear them. Kgosi is a custodian of our people’s customs, traditions and the resources need to consult widely in order to take credible decisions,” said Premier Modise.
“As government, we want stability in the areas under the jurisdiction of the chiefs and are worried about the extent to which the discoveries of minerals in rural communities are causing bitter rivalry and conflicts within royal houses, institutions of traditional leadership and traditional councils,” she added.
She called on traditional leaders to ensure that minerals that they are custodians of benefit their communities and not themselves or those close to them.
The official proclamation of Kgosi Moiloa as the Senior Traditional Leader of Bahurutshe Ba-Ga Moiloa follows the recommendation of the Commission on Traditional Leadership and Disputes to which the traditional leadership dispute was referred by Premier Moidse amid protracted wrangling about who is the legitimate chief.
In July this year the commission established that Kgosi Israel Keobusitse Moiloa was the rightful; Senior Traditional Leader of Bahurutshe Ba Ga Moiloa Boo Ramotshere.
The commission established that the chieftainship of Bahurutshe ba ga Moiloa is determined by birth and not election by the tribe. From the Commission’s report, Premier Modise established that Israel Keobusitse Moiloa is the first born son of Godfrey Monnamere and therefore the rightful heir.
In accepting the recognition certificate and his responsibility as the Chief today, Kgosi Keobusitse Israel Moiloa said he is determined to unite the Bahututshe ba-ga Moiloa and appealed for cooperation.
“I am your child and would like appeal to you to work with me so that together we can make progress. When you see me doing something wrong please do not keep quite, let me know,” said Kgosi Moiloa.
Kgosi Moiloa said his community has a very long and proud history and highlighted the role that they played in the liberation struggle, reiterating that Dinokana was a conduit for political activists who fled the apartheid government in to the neighbouring Botswana and other countries.
“We must not be a liability to government. We have the land, let’s make use of it to change our lives. We have fields that we can plough and so many things that we can do to create livelihoods,” said the Kgosi adding that he was willing to work with all the people under his jurisdiction including those that were initially opposed to him.
Delighted community members expressed optimism that the new chief will bring about development.
“We are grateful that we have finally closed this chapter with this presentation of the recognition certificate. We too will be like other tribes with the rightful kgosi and we are confident that there will be development in our community,” said Abram Moloi of Welbedacht.
“We are very excited at this development. This was a splendid occasion and we are optimistic that with the support of the community things can only get better,” said the 69-year old granny Motswaki More.
Premier Modise who was renamed “Mme-Mmabatho” (Mother of the People) by Tsimane Moiloa one of the Chief’s uncles in his vote of thanks on behalf of the royal house and the tribe for her “unpretentious and principled leadership” was accompanied by MEC for Local Government & Traditional Affairs, Manketsi Tlhape, MEC for Sports and Recreation Tebogo Modise, Member of Parliament Joe Selao and other government officials.
The joyous event was also attended by more than fifteen chiefs from across the province who pledged support to Kgosi Moiloa and expressed appreciation to the manner in which the provincial government had dealt with the traditional leadership dispute through Kgosi Thari Maotwe who represented the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders.
The Northern Cape House of Traditional Leaders was represented by Kgosi Pule Bareki.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele, Spokesperson
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
