While the provincial government claim that there is an ongoing process to purchase the privately-owned land confining the Kaditshwene heritage site which is situated between Zeerust and Groot Marico, the local traditional leadership dismisses this claim as untrue as they are not part of any process.
Kaditshwene is historically considered the capital of the Bahurutshe tribe, and considered to have been the largest Batswana settlement in Southern Africa, with a population of 6000 to 20 000 in the early 1800s as evidenced by extensive settlement remains.
According to The Citizen, the Department of rural development, land reform and agriculture chief director in the North West, Lengane Bogatsu revealed that there was a process underway to claim the land on behalf of Bahurutshe for heritage purposes.
“Bahurutshe authorities have approached us requesting that the properties be purchased on behalf of all Bahurutshe for the establishment, the restoration of the dignity and the heritage of the Bahurutshe people. Discussions and the process is ongoing with Bahurutshe leadership regarding the possibility of acquiring the land,” Bogatsu said.
Speaking on behalf of the Bahurutshe traditional leadership, the former Gauteng MPL and current Bahurutshe council member, Uhuru Dikgang Moiloa, dismissed the government’s claim.
“Bahurutshe demand that the government cannot buy our heritage site without our involvement. There is just too much corruption that we suspect. We suspect that those who are pressing for buying back the resting place of our kings and queens want to do so for commercial gains. Nothing about Kaditshwene without Moiloa’s royal family,” Moiloa charged.
Moiloa further called on the national government for intervention, “Bahurutshe calls on the President of the Republic of SA and the Minister of rural development and land reform, Thoko Didiza, to intervene,” he said.
One of the three private land-owners, Riana Delport, confirmed that the government has not made any engagements recently. The last premier to have engaged the farmer was the erstwhile Supra Mahumapelo who was abdicated from his office in 2018.
“In the previous years, I have been engaged by various government officials including premiers. Recently, I have not spoken to any government officials, what I can tell you is that we never had productive engagements and that channel of communication stopped. It is therefore disingenuous of the government to lie to you by claiming that they are in the process of buying my land. I do not know anything,” Delport said.
Delport is the only farmer who allows free entry to those who want to access to the part of her land which is the heritage site, and sometimes gives a tour guide from her employees. The other two farmers do not allow public access to their private farms.
