Sekai, Mothibe, Kgafela's brothers, square up

Lerato Maleke | Friday December 20, 2013 15:05

 

Though the fight between the two loyalists comes a long way, animosity between Mothibe and Sekai flared up after Kgosi Kgolo Kgafela Kgafela appointed the latter as deputy chief. In the royal lineage Mothibe ranks higher than Sekai and by virtue of this he felt it was only proper that he should have been appointed instead of Sekai. He felt belittled and was annoyed when he was overlooked.

But as things stand only a handful of Bakgatla tribesmen are behind Mothibe, even from the time when he was a regent appointed by Kgosi Linchwe II. This is a fact understood by Mothibe who used to openly tell Bakgatla in the kgotla that they did not like him. But Kgafela had a reason according to sources and he chose Sekai because he wanted the presidency of the customary court position which was held by his father to go to Mothibe and therefore remain a Bakgatla domain.

However, Mothibe does not see things that way and wanted to be Kgafela’s number two so that he could call the shots when he was not around. Mothibe is also annoyed because he is superior to Sekai, hence Kgafela should have taken him.

What irks Mothibe more is that at kgotla meetings it is Sekai who speaks first by virtue of being deputy chief but this annoys Mothibe because he is senior according to how their grandfathers were born, reasons elderly tribesman. Sekai has always admitted in Kgotla meetings that Mothibe is his senior but insists that he should be reminded that he (Sekai) was legally installed and that he is also of royal blood.  All along Mothibe was seen as being in the same camp as Sekai and others in Kgafela’s fight with government. At the time he was suspended as the customary court presidency for allegedly vandalising a Mascom tower together with other royal members.

Then came the presidential pardon and reinstatement to his seat and sparks began to fly.

Mothibe hijacked a kgotla meeting called by Sekai recently and fired a broadside at the tribe accusing it of meddling in chieftainship matters. “Le tsositse modumo mo Kgatleng. Le intshitse thaga, le boesemang tota,” said Mothibe. (You are causing a fracas in Kgatleng. You have turned yourself into quelea birds and you are nonenties).

He informed the tribe that he was going to sort things out and he could even stand alone. “Le ka nna la bua ka nna, la bo la nkgwela mathe fa ke sule, mme tsamaiso e tshwanetse go nna teng,” fumed Mothibe. (You may say anything you want about me and even spit on my grave, but you should know that there is procedure). Further, Mothibe said that apart from bogosi, there were laws that govern this country and that they should be just like those governing bogosi. Mothibe openly informed the tribe that he would act that Monday, if Bakgatla’s behaviour continued to go out of control. Mothibe accused Bakgatla of dividing Linchwe’s children. While Mothibe was saying these, some of the tribeswomen, indirectly responded to Mothibe and said he was not clear on what he was saying. “A reng ne? Bomang? A tseela mang dikgato? Fa a itoma diteme jaana a reng tota? remarked the women.

Sekai did not take kindly to these utterances by Mothibe and made it clear that it was not acceptable for him to call people quelea birds and nonenties in a meeting called by him. He took this as disrespect. In a recent interview Sekai told Mmegi: “I do not want to say anything about Mothibe. If you have been attending our kgotla meetings, obviously you know Mothibe’s behaviour,” Sekai explained. However, Mothibe said that he did not have a problem with Sekai and that he was not against bogosi, adding that they could not view issues in the same way. “I view things from a different angle and also speak in good faith as I have been a leader for some time‚” said Mothibe. He said he might have used offending words in the last kgotla meeting to some people “but what is important is that some people will understand me, others will not. What is important within the bogosi institution in Kgatleng is guidance and I will continue to do that, no matter who says what.”

Mothibe said he was involved when Sekai was appointed deputy and that “I even wrote a letter to the minister recommending to him that morafe has endorsed him.” Mothibe’s pardon did not go well with some Bakgatla who have since labelled him a ‘bootlicker’, among them his uncles from the royal family and other tribesmen loyal to Sekai. A good section of Bakgatla felt that all the convicts in the matter should have been pardoned. Mothibe, Mmusi, Bakgatle (Kgafela’s brothers), Sekai and several tribesmen were ordered to pay P15,000 by the Magistrate Court for the destruction of the tower. The selective pardon divided the tribe.

The tension extends to Kgafela’s brothers, Mmusi and Bakgatle, now against Sekai who has been installed by their brother. They want him replaced because he is not wanted by the government. The two also strangely boycotted the kgotla meeting. The Deputy chief whose contract was not renewed by government when he reached retirement age narrated how Kgosi Kgolo, Kgafela Kgafela’s brothers called a consultative meeting with dikgosana whose subject was to find his replacement.

Sekai was appointed by the self banished Bakgatla paramount chief Kgafela, now living in South Africa, but the latest move by Kgafela’s brothers is the freshest clear indicator that the brothers and their Kgosi Kgolo do not agree, at least on who should be the tribal leader here while the Kgosi Kgolo continues to live in South Africa. Sekai cried out that as the deputy he takes orders from Kgafela to conduct Kgotla meetings and that Kgafela’s brothers cannot oust him without Kgafela’s word. He also said it was unlawful for the brothers to convene a kgotla meeting behind his back.