Stop spoiling Basarwa - Pilane
Thalefang Charles | Tuesday April 26, 2022 06:00
Pilane says this is to discourage Basarwa from rushing to court over non-issues. Pilane made the comments following a court session in which he heard attorney Nelson Ramaotwana was doing the case pro bono. Pilane had offered to not ask for costs if he wins against the family. The advocate later said in future he would opt for costs to discourage Basarwa from “rushing to court knowing that they would not pay”.
His comments infuriated the deceased’s son, Lesiame Pitseng who broke down and cried. His father’s body has been lying in a morgue for four months over the burial tussle between the family and government. Pilane later explained his view on the treatment of Basarwa. “We need to stop spoiling them. They need to be subjected to the laws, which govern all of us.
Why do we continue treating them differently? They are Batswana like the rest of us. And there are also other poor Batswana who struggle through life, work hard and don't expect everything to be done for them, and don't get special treatment. Why do we continue treating Basarwa as if they are objects of pity who deserve our charity? It is time we treated them as equals,” Pilane said. “There are other Batswana who are not Basarwa, who live around national parks and game reserves and who had to make way for national parks and game reserves. “There are other Batswana who gave up lands they occupied for mines and other national developments to take place.
Those were their ancestral lands too, but they gave way to national interest. So must Basarwa. It is that simple,” argues Pilane. Attorney Ramaotwana has been volunteering for the family through their ordeal. “I have helped them without any payment. I have actually even assisted them with transport money sometimes,” he said.