The Royal Bafokeng Nation’s Queen Mother, Semane Molotlegi, has been laid to rest at her home village of Phokeng outside Rustenburg in the North West.
Queen Mother Semane Bonolo Molotlegi was a proud member of the royal family, the 150 000-strong royal Bafokeng nation, the renowned and visionary traditional community located in the North West.
Approximately 90 years before platinum was discovered on Bafokeng land, he started pooling funds from his people to buy back land. His blueprint would predate and survive the South African War (1899 to 1902), the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, the Land Act of 1913, apartheid and the homeland policy – all policies that dispossessed black South Africans of land. When he died in 2000 and his younger brother was enthroned in 2003, the Queen Mother became that guide for him to stay the course. Among others, King Leruo Molotlegi presided over the decision of the Royal Bafokeng Nation’s Supreme Council to establish the RBNDT and the Royal Bafokeng Finance in 2004 to manage the Nation’s wealth. Then the RBH followed in 2006 “to create a portfolio that is diverse and that has liquidity and a strong and predictable dividend flow in order to support the development goals and aspirations of our beneficiaries”.
Our country has lost yet another great leader who served her community and the country with diligence and commitment. May her departed soul rest in peace,” said the Minister. Mokgoro said the consistent role played by Mmemogolo (‘Our Great Mother’) Semane Molotlegi in the development of rural areas through health and education advocacy programmes, as well as food security initiatives, did not go unnoticed.
Rest in peace Mmemogolo. May we as women leaders of your beloved South Africa be found worthy of your immense support that you so generously gave to each one of us. The great lesson that you taught us of being “fully present” to hold the spotlight for each other will never be forgotten. You gave us confidence to shine, for that we will always be grateful.
A succession of carpetbaggers have tried to deprive the Bafokeng of their ancestral endowment. The late Steve Kearney, former CEO of Impala Platinum, is remembered as a hero among the Bafokeng for helping to avert disaster.