UDC Councillors reject government proposal
In a bold show of solidarity with their constituents, Gabane councillors Mokgatla David Pule of Mogoditshane West and Obakeng Sekolokwane on Tuesday openly rejected the government’s proposal to incorporate Gabane into the planned Mogoditshane township.
Both are members of the ruling Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).
They did not mince their words as they faced Mogoditshane/Thamaga District Council Chairman Molatedi Selala, who is also a UDC member, and made it clear that they stand with the people of Gabane, who have long opposed being clustered under Mogoditshane.
Rather than pushing their party’s mandate, the councillors chose to echo the concerns of residents who fear that Gabane will lose its identity and development opportunities if absorbed into the growing township.
Sekolokwane revealed during the consultation meeting this week that community leaders and councillors have already taken their concerns directly to the Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa.
“We have already met the minister and made it clear that we do not want anything to do with Mogoditshane,” he said.
“We proposed that instead of two districts, the government should consider creating three districts so that we can be independent of Mogoditshane. We have submitted a letter explaining our position clearly. As the people of Gabane, we want our own district.”
In the letter, seen by this publication, they argue that the proposed restructuring will create the Kweneng South District, comprising Thamaga, Mmankgodi, Kumakwane, Ramaphatlhe, Gakgatla, and Kubung, with Thamaga as
the proposed headquarters.
Meanwhile, Mogoditshane, Gabane, Mmopane, Metsimotlhabe, Tloaneng, and Mmokolodi would form Kweneng East District, with Mogoditshane as the headquarters.
The government further proposes to elevate Mogoditshane into a township that would include all the villages under the proposed Kweneng East District, a move that has unsettled many residents.
“We, as the people of the five villages of Gabane, Mmopane, Metsimotlhabe, Tloaneng, and Mmokolodi, request the minister to consider forming a new district with our population of about 60,000,” part of the letter reads.
The residents argue that development has historically favoured Mogoditshane due to its larger population, leaving the surrounding villages behind. If their request is approved, they propose that Gabane should serve as the district headquarters.
Responding to the concerns, Selala said his team had been tasked with consulting communities on the proposal to establish two districts, not three.
However, he welcomed the fact that residents had already escalated their concerns to the minister.
Pule, one of the most vocal councillors on the issue, urged Selala to take the community’s concerns seriously.
He noted that residents of Gabane already feel some of their land, including his area, the Mogoditshane West ward, has been absorbed into Mogoditshane.
He warned that ignoring the concerns raised in the letter submitted to the minister could deepen tensions between the communities and government.
“The letter we delivered carries the concerns of the people in their entirety,” Pule said.
Asked if they are now rebelling against their master, Sekolokwane said they were not fighting the UDC government but merely speaking out against being swallowed by Mogoditshane.
''We are ready to defend this one with our all, it will even reach parliament if need be,' he said.