Bakwena ba Mogopa traditional community get an Administrator
The MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Mothibedi Kegakilwe, has withdrawn the powers of the Traditional Council of Bakwena ba Mogopa and appointed an Administrator to oversee the operations of the Traditional Council.
This he did with the express authority and approval of the Premier of the Province, Prof Job Mokgoro, in terms of Section 9 (1), read with Section 10 (1) and (2) of the North West Traditional Leadership and Governance Act, 2005 (Act No.2 of 2005).
The name of the Administrator is Mr Jim Matsho. His academic credentials and competencies were read out to the Royal family and the community of Bakwena ba Mogopa respectively. A team of experts that include legal and finance will be appointed to work with the Administrator and his appointment is effective from January 2020 when he concluded a contract with the Office of the Premier, for a period of six months.
The above came about after the respective Offices of the MEC and Premier were inundated with calls for intervention amid allegations of malfeasance, corruption and dysfunctionality of the traditional council, which affected its ability to provide services to the constituent communities under its jurisdiction.
The Terms of Reference for the Administrator include, amongst others, the responsibility to manage financial and administrative affairs of the traditional community, the development of a sound policy framework where there are policy gaps and investigation of all mining contracts and land claims where appropriate. This he would do to protect the interests of the community, and he will provide regular reports to both the Traditional Council and the Provincial Government.
He is further mandated to implement previous resolutions of the traditional Council that were not implemented and review those that are deemed to be incongruous. The Administrator is also expected to work on bridging the divide between the community and the Traditional Council and bring harmony in the Royal family.
The whole process of placing the traditional council under administration is expected to culminate in the nomination of the traditional council for a fresh term of office. MEC Kegakilwe wished the Administrator well in his new duties and appealed to the community, the Royal family and the traditional council to co-operate with the Administrator.
“Many communities in this province have been robbed of what is due to them because the infighting amongst members of the royal family and I want to appeal to this royal family to work closely with the Administrator for the benefit of this community’’, he said.
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