and the unveiling of Kgoshi Malebogo Statue, Ben Seraki Sport Centre
24 September 2006
Programme director
Kgoshi Malebogo
Executive Mayor of Capricorn District Municipality
Mayor of Blouberg Municipality Cllr DR Kubjana
MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Mr Joe Maswanganyi
Traditional leaders of our province
MPs and MPLs
Veterans and stalwarts of our liberation struggle
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
The first President of Botswana Sir Seretse Khama once remarked that: "A
nation without a past is a lost nation. And people without a past are a people
without a soul."
Nothing can best capture the importance of Heritage Month than these words
which locate heritage in the centre of our nation's soul and pride.
Underpinning this occasion is an understanding that Heritage Month has profound
meaning both to Government and to our nation, as the very act of celebrating
this month means that our nation has resolved and is committed to the
preservation and declaration of that which has value and significance to our
people. These range from our collections of various kinds of artefacts,
restoration and care of sites which have religious, political, cultural,
scientific, archaeological or environmental significance, including the
celebration of our living heritage in the form of praise poetry, song,
folktale, dance and literature.
The richness and diversity of our cultural tapestry should therefore become
the source of strength and not a divisive tool. Our cultural diversity must
help us to play a major role in the renewal of Africa and in uniting all her
people. In this regard, we must ensure that Heritage Month enable us to pull
together all our various strength and resources for nation building and
national reconciliation.
There are many sites of historical significance in our province that only
deserve to be graded to the status of heritage sites. High amongst these
include Tjate in Sekhukhune, Soutini in Baleni (Mopani), Fundudzi Lake and
Dzata in the Vhembe District. These sites are bequeathed by our ancestors and
are equally deserving of being called national symbols.
Our government is committed to doing everything possible to facilitate the
optimum conditions in which these sites can be developed and marketed for the
benefit of local communities and for tourism purposes.
The protection and conservation of heritage should not only be the exclusive
domain of government but all of us need to get involved in this effort. Our
municipalities and communities, particularly traditional leaders and healers
must be in the forefront of identifying and promoting new heritage sites found
in their localities. This will assist in accentuating the best from our past
and help in stimulating local economic development where people live. Community
involvement in heritage matters will also help to protect our monuments from
neglect and possible vandalism as we have recently witnessed in Makhado and
Sekhukhune where the statues of our leaders where desecrated by unknown
people.
Programme director
In unveiling the statue of this great leader of Bahanwana people, one is
reminded about the many protracted battles Malebogo and his people had to
endure in their journey to liberate themselves. The struggles of Bahanwana and
Malebogo began way back when the two Boer republics where founded, namely the
Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR / Transvaal) and the Orange River Sovereignty
(later Orange Free State).Within these Boer republics, just like in all other
parts of South Africa, there were independent Black chiefdoms which until then,
enjoyed their freedoms. As a result, the newly established Boer republics were
faced with a huge challenge of bringing those independent chiefdoms (some of
them very powerful) under their authority. The Boers set themselves a task of
forcefully subjugating the Black communities. After re-establishing their
authority in 1881 after their war with the British, the Boers continued their
mission of subjugating the Black chiefdoms under their authority.
Kgoši Ratšhatšha Lebogo (Malebogo) and the Bahananwa were not prepared to
submit under the ZAR. The Boers of the ZAR expected the Bahananwa to be counted
in a census, pay taxes and recognise their authority just like all the Black
communities within what they viewed as their jurisdiction. Apparently, one of
the reasons why the Bahananwa rejected the Boer authority was that they had
more respect for the British than the Boers, and that they preferred the
former's authority than the latter's. However, the reality was that the Boers
had regained power from the British in 1881 and that they regarded themselves
as masters.
Kgoši Malebogo and the Bahananwa's refusal to meet the demands of the Boers
led to the mobilisation on both sides. Although all the odds were stacked
against Kgoši Malebogo, he managed to put up a brave fight against Boers from
June 1894. His people had gathered a substantial amount of sophisticated
firearms which were effectively used during the war. The number of casualties
suffered by the Boers during the war indicated that the Bahananwa were heavily
armed with firearms. The Boers took this war very seriously as they slowly
assembled commandos from almost all the districts of the ZAR. The commandos
from Marico, Rustenburg, Pretoria, Waterberg, Lydenberg, Middleburg, and so on,
all gathered in Blouberg in 1894 with one mission to attack and subjugate the
Bahananwa of Kgoši Malebogo.
These large numbers of commandos were also added by Black warriors from
allied chiefs, Kibi, Mapene, Matlala and the Matebele. With numbers on the side
of the Boers, it was inevitable that the Bahananwa were going to lose. However,
it was not going to be easy. The Boers were so frustrated by the bravery of the
Bahananwa of Ratšhatšha that they even used dynamite, which they hoped would
destroy the Bahananwa among the rocks. They again tried petroleum which they
burnt in the hope of smoking out the Bahananwa from their mountain
strongholds.
With all such unconventional methods of warfare, the Bahananwa still
resisted. After the failure of the Boers to subdue the Bahananwa with their
numbers, Black allies, dynamite and petroleum, they finally decided to surround
the water hole which supplied the Bahananwa with water. This marked the crucial
stage of the war. Heavy gunfire was exchanged around the water hole. Scores of
Boers lost their lives as they tried to capture the water hole. Another
significant incident during the war was that the Boers were so determined to
crush the Bahananwa that they carried their canon up the mountain in the hope
of firing at the royal kraal. On their way up, they struggled to push the heavy
machine in between rocks and huge boulders. During that tedious job of pushing
the canon up, the Bahananwa attacked and fired heavily on them. The Boers left
the canon and ran away. During that skirmish numerous Boers lost their
lives.
After a bitter skirmish and loss of life, the Boers eventually took control
of the water hole at the beginning of July 1894. This marked a turning point in
the war. Thirst took a heavy toll on the Bahananwa. There is no life without
water. Lack of water soon proved to be unbearable for the Bahananwa.
Eventually the large numbers of thirsty Bahananwa flocked to the water hole
where they quenched their thirst and then surrendered. With his people
surrendering in large numbers, Kgoši Malebogo had no other option but to
consider surrendering himself.
The decision to hand himself to the Boers was very difficult for Ratšhatšha.
He thought of the number of Boers his warriors had killed, and he then feared
that the Boers might execute him on sight. After much bickering with his
councillors, Ratšhatšha appeared to be convinced to surrender, although oral
history has it that he even attempted to throw himself into an open fire as a
sign of his reluctance to surrender.
The legacy of this great chief of Bahanwana continues to inspire us even
today in our pursuit for justice, freedom and a better life for all. Today,
Kgoshi Malebogo's name has become a rallying point and an embodiment of noble
anti-colonial battles of the Bahanwana people. Malebogo is counted amongst the
many nation-builders of our country such as Nghunghunyane, Shaka, Bhambata,
Sekhukhune, Makhado, Mokopane and many others who shed blood for our own
liberation. This is indeed a proud moment for the province and the Bahanwana
people in joining fellow South Africans in finally honoring the memory and
spirit of Kgoshi Malebogo and those who fought side-by-side with him. The
statue we are unveiling today serves as a token of our appreciation for the
role played by him and the Bahanwana people in the liberation of South Africa
and Africa in general. The monument we have unveiled today will serve as a
heritage site and a source of honour for the people of Limpopo and South Africa
in general. Our Traditional Leaders in particular, can draw lessons and
inspiration from Malebogo's courage and bravery.
We expect them to show true leadership by partnering with their
municipalities in leading their people out of the trappings of joblessness,
crime, illiteracy and poverty. This monument will forever remain a remainder of
the defeat of the stranglehold of Apartheid and colonial conquest on our
people. It should therefore be looked after at all times so that our children
can learn their indigenous history and further appreciate their cultures.
There is no better tribute we could ever pay Kgoshi Malebogo than to
continue working side by side in our battle against unemployment, poverty,
crime, illiteracy, hunger and disease.
I thank you
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Limpopo Provincial Government
24 September 2006
