The announcement of the untimely death of Kgosi Bernard Mokalake Motsatsi (68) of the Batlokwa-Ba-Bogatsu Traditional Councils who passed away at his home in Tlokweng on Thursday after suffering ill health for some time has sparked waves of shock to most if not all South Africans especially the people of the North West Province.
MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs honourable Thamsanqa China Dodovu joined other leaders across the Province in conveying their message of condolences to the family of Kgosi Motsatsi
“He contributed meaningfully in dealing with the challenges facing institutions of traditional leadership. We are really saddened by his death and we hope that those who are left behind will continue to bridge the information gap between government and our communities and prioritise the stabilisation of governance in traditional leadership areas” says MEC Dodovu.
During his heydays Kgosi Motsatsi was a pioneer student at Batswana Training and Trade School. He was inaugurated as Kgosi of Batlokwa Ba Bogatsu in 1968 and went on to serve as a Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Police during the Bophuthatswana Regime. He also served as a Tswana Territorial Commissioner, a member of Setswana Language Board and a traditional councilor.
Kgosi Motsatsi was also elected as the Vice Chairperson of North West House of Traditional Leaders, a position which he served for two terms and later amongst his leadership and career moves became the Advisor to the former Premier of North West Mme Ednah Molewa.
Chairperson of North West House of Traditional Leaders Kgosi Madoda Zibi expressed with sadness that he was inaugurated as the leader of his tribe by the late Kgosi Motsatsi. “The late kgosi was indeed a pioneer in the field of traditional leadership, the house and traditional councils across the province are saddened by the news of his death as he is leaving a void as an advisor and a leader in the fraternity of tradition and culture. He has set the pace for the house, ours is to carry the baton and run with it.” says Kgosi Zibi.
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