26 Feb 2025

Residents of Gobojango are seeking clarity over prolonged suspension of their tribal leader, kgosi Keabetswe Mokgethi who has been interdicted from discharging his tribal duties after being charged with alleged forgery since February 2023.
Kgosi Mokgethi, who pleaded innocence, said that he successfully  challenged the charge. However, it is said that the Directorate of Public Prosecutions has appealed the matter and therefore the tribal leader remains suspended.
It is alleged that Kgosi Mokgethi had tampered with minutes of a meeting in favour of his younger brother sometime in 2017. Allegedly, Kgosi Mokgethi preferred his brother to assume leadership of one of the wards in Gobojango ahead of his uncle who the relatives had named as the legitimate leader.
It is alleged that upon thorough inspection it was discovered that the typed minutes, from Kgosi Mokgethi’s office, differed from the hand-written ones, the latter being the original minutes from the said meeting.
Resultantly, Kgosi Mokgethi was then charged with the crime of forging documents.
However, the residents seem to be in the dark about the said charges and called for clarity saying the prolonged suspension of their leader had negatively affected the running of their village affairs.
Currently, the village does not have deputy chief and hence rely on Kgosi Isaiah Madema of Semolale.
Kgosi Madema also presides over matters at Mabolwe village as currently, Mabolwe does not have a kgosi.
As a result of presiding over three villages, residents of Gobojango argued that Kgosi Madema was hardly accessible and clearly overwhelmed by his duties. Consequently, the residents further argued that being hardly accessible rendered it impossible for some activities requiring a kgosi’s approval to take effect and hence they sought update and clarity on the status of their leader.
Not only are the residents concerned about the status of their kgosi, they also requested the upgrading of their village so that they could have a deputy chief who would preside over village matters in the absence of the substantive kgosi.
In response, area MP, Mr Taolo Lucas, although equally concerned about the status of kgosi Mokgethi, said that he was constrained in commenting on a matter before the courts of law.
“But I agree that when people stay for a long time without a kgosi, lawlessness amongst some people may kick in,” said MP Lucas.
He said that he was ready to join a party that residents may wish to delegate to see the minister responsible for traditional affairs, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa about the matter. ENDS