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Bangwaketse issue ultimatum to Bathoen Trust board

Some of the residents of Kanye who attended the Kgotla meeting Some of the residents of Kanye who attended the Kgotla meeting
Some of the residents of Kanye who attended the Kgotla meeting

This was after Morafe issued an ultimatum at a Kgotla meeting held in Kanye last Friday where the trust was the main subject of discussion.

“Of course Bangwaketse have agreed that the new board should be elected after two weeks. If things do not turn out that way then we will have no choice but to write to District Commissioner, or engage the attorney, but we have trust that the meeting for Bathoen Trust financial audit will be called,” one of the concerned members Charles Pelekekae said.

Pelekekae said they were disappointed that the meeting that was supposed to discuss audit ended up with nothing to show.

He continued; “We don’t understand why this issue of the Trust has now become personal to others when the Trust belongs to Bangwaketse and not individuals. As the concerned members who are the original founders of this Trust, we are not going to let this issue be taken lightly. We hope this week the tribe should be able to access the audited financial report for the Trust so that next week or before it could be discussed”. Last Friday, the tribe requested the board to produce consolidated detailed reports for all the auction sales conducted from January 2011 to December 2014.

“The trust should account for all missing equipment that has not been recorded stolen. The Trust should account for funds used to buy a board member a PA system without justification. The Trust is not benefitting the tribe or helping to develop our village as it was first agreed when formed,” one of the residents said.  In response, the Trust  chairperson, Basiamang Ramokone promised Bangwaketse that they would make a detailed report in the near future, adding that the audit report did not carry a comprehensive content such as the statement from the auditors.

 “For example, we gave them reasons regarding the P200,000 (paid to a certain  Mojaphoko)  for the development of plots 34, 35 and 38.

The said person, Mojaphoko had agreement with our brigade and the money did not go into our account, though it reflects that,” Ramokone said.