FAMILY FEUD
Siblings, Randy Rakgasa, and younger brother Last Bashi Rakgasa of Radio Botswana fame, do not see eye to eye and are not on speaking terms.
The Midweek Sun recently picked wind of the radio man's family embroiled in a bitter feud over a family farm which his siblings were suspicious he had acquired it as his own alone via dubious means. Speaking to this publication this week, Randy described his little brother as disrespectful and arrogant.
“He does not respect me, even if he passes by me on the streets, he would not greet me. I have tried several times to call him to resolve our differences, but he is not budging. He is married but I do not even know his wife because I was not part of the celebrations,” Randy said.
He says the last time he had a proper chat with his brother was back in 2016 during a family meeting in which he, Last, suggested that the family should meet more often to bring the family closer together. Dates were set for the next meeting but when the day arrived, Last, according to Randy, never showed up. When they contacted him, he told them he was held up at work.
Randy said they are a family of five siblings and Last is the youngest.
“I later learned that he was intending to take over my parent's farm as his own, and not willing to share with his siblings. This did not sit well with us. I remember that we had to be called to the Kgotla after he had wanted Kgosi to write a letter which he would use at land board for change of land ownership. Kgosi wanted to satisfy himself with facts and that we had all agreed to give Last the farm,” Randy recalled.
Randy said they told Kgosi that the matter was news to them and they were told to go home to sort themselves out. That was the last time they heard of the matter. Time passed and he, Randy, later learnt that Last was busy developing the farm. Suspicious, after witnessing the developments, he went to land board offices to inquire the names under whom the farm was registered. To his shock, the farm was registered in his brother’s name, Last.
Upon further investigation, he discovered that Kgosi Mosielele of Moshupa had drafted the letter which Last used to proceed with his plans.
“My mother is an old woman nearing 100 years and Last took advantage of this. He made her sign the farm over to him. I cannot blame my mother because, in her state, she does not understand anything. Right now if you mention Last’s name, she gets angry. I expected better from Last; he is educated and a public figure, I am disappointed that he is taking advantage of our mother’s old age.
“She does not understand the repercussions of giving Last that farm and excluding us as her children. We should be guiding her, not using her weakness to our advantage. She is incapable of realising the damage caused to the family,” Randy said.
Reached to hear his side of the story, Last said the matter was news to him. “I do not know what you are talking about. There are procedures to be followed, not just talking to Randy,” Last said, without explaining the said procedures.
This publication tried explaining to Last that calling him was to get his side of the story, but the telephone interview was abruptly ended with the phone hung up. Several attempts were made to reach him again, but his phone rang unanswered.
On the other hand, Kgosi Mosielele said he knew about the matter well, but dismissed it as just personal family conflicts.
“The mother came to me saying she wants to give the farm to Last. I had no reason to deny her. A parent has the right to give what belongs to her to any child of her own," Mosielele said.
He continued that if memory serves him well, it is not like other siblings did not receive anything from their mother.
"I do not know where Kgosi is getting the confidence to say things he said. What inheritance is he talking about? We will proceed with this matter, even if it means going to court," Randy retorted.
The Midweek Sun recently picked wind of the radio man's family embroiled in a bitter feud over a family farm which his siblings were suspicious he had acquired it as his own alone via dubious means. Speaking to this publication this week, Randy described his little brother as disrespectful and arrogant.
“He does not respect me, even if he passes by me on the streets, he would not greet me. I have tried several times to call him to resolve our differences, but he is not budging. He is married but I do not even know his wife because I was not part of the celebrations,” Randy said.
He says the last time he had a proper chat with his brother was back in 2016 during a family meeting in which he, Last, suggested that the family should meet more often to bring the family closer together. Dates were set for the next meeting but when the day arrived, Last, according to Randy, never showed up. When they contacted him, he told them he was held up at work.
Randy said they are a family of five siblings and Last is the youngest.
“I later learned that he was intending to take over my parent's farm as his own, and not willing to share with his siblings. This did not sit well with us. I remember that we had to be called to the Kgotla after he had wanted Kgosi to write a letter which he would use at land board for change of land ownership. Kgosi wanted to satisfy himself with facts and that we had all agreed to give Last the farm,” Randy recalled.
Randy said they told Kgosi that the matter was news to them and they were told to go home to sort themselves out. That was the last time they heard of the matter. Time passed and he, Randy, later learnt that Last was busy developing the farm. Suspicious, after witnessing the developments, he went to land board offices to inquire the names under whom the farm was registered. To his shock, the farm was registered in his brother’s name, Last.
Upon further investigation, he discovered that Kgosi Mosielele of Moshupa had drafted the letter which Last used to proceed with his plans.
“My mother is an old woman nearing 100 years and Last took advantage of this. He made her sign the farm over to him. I cannot blame my mother because, in her state, she does not understand anything. Right now if you mention Last’s name, she gets angry. I expected better from Last; he is educated and a public figure, I am disappointed that he is taking advantage of our mother’s old age.
“She does not understand the repercussions of giving Last that farm and excluding us as her children. We should be guiding her, not using her weakness to our advantage. She is incapable of realising the damage caused to the family,” Randy said.
Reached to hear his side of the story, Last said the matter was news to him. “I do not know what you are talking about. There are procedures to be followed, not just talking to Randy,” Last said, without explaining the said procedures.
This publication tried explaining to Last that calling him was to get his side of the story, but the telephone interview was abruptly ended with the phone hung up. Several attempts were made to reach him again, but his phone rang unanswered.
On the other hand, Kgosi Mosielele said he knew about the matter well, but dismissed it as just personal family conflicts.
“The mother came to me saying she wants to give the farm to Last. I had no reason to deny her. A parent has the right to give what belongs to her to any child of her own," Mosielele said.
He continued that if memory serves him well, it is not like other siblings did not receive anything from their mother.
"I do not know where Kgosi is getting the confidence to say things he said. What inheritance is he talking about? We will proceed with this matter, even if it means going to court," Randy retorted.
