12 Dec 2024

 Kgosi Kgafela II of Bakgatla-ba-ga-Kgafela has announced that he would visit Botswana on May 21, 2025. 

Addressing Bakgatla residing in Botswana and South Africa during a virtual kgotla meeting yesterday, Kgosi Kgafela, however, clarified that he would not be relocating as yet, but would continue staying in South Africa and frequently visit home.

Kgosi Kgafela left the country on May 21, 2012 due to some issues with government at the time and next year will be the 13th year since his departure to South Africa.

He thanked Batswana for changing government, adding, ‘this historic change to unseat the long ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has brought renewed hope to the citizens and this election signalled a new chapter for Botswana’. 

He said he trusted the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC)-led government to make some changes that would improve the lives of Batswana under the human rights lawyer in President Advocate Duma Boko. 

Kgosi Kgafela II said Batswana should be proud of making such a historic change in the country’s administration. 

“October 31 was the only day I felt renewed and very happy after a very long time since 2012,” he said. 

Assuring the meeting of his support of the new government, he said his coming would also afford him opportunity to participate on chatting a new path in the review of the Constitution. 

“I expect the new government to move swiftly in addressing the long overdue Constitutional review,” he said. 

Kgosi Kgafela said he expected the review process to address challenges of the Bogosi institution and strengthen it, adding that his tribe expected their long standing grievances concerning land to be addressed. 

He said he would encourage his tribe to support government and back UDC endeavours to address the urgent economic challenges that bedevilled the country. “I promise you that I will embark on this new chapter with you to build a new Botswana,” he said. 

For his part, Bakgatla Deputy Chief, Kgosi Bana Sekai thanked Bakgatla for honouring the meeting and updated them about some developments including the impending sewage reticulation on the newly built kgotla shelter. 

He said the shelter was not fully complete because land board should first deal with some homesteads adjacent to the kgotla as they were affected by developments around the kgotla shelter.  Ends