HEBRONITES - website of the Bakwena ba Mogopa Village
Hebron, this remote village is located North of Pretoria (approximately 42km from the Pretoria CBD).
Fa re ipela re re " Re Bakwena ba di phinya tse di bolelo"
Historical Background
The Bakwena Ba Mogopa Traditional Community is predominantly located in the Bojanala District (Bethanie), the Madibeng (Jerico, Maboloka & Hebron), Ventersdorp (Mogopa) and Paachsdrai in the North West Province.
RAIKANE MORE, was the first Kgosi to settle in Bethanie. Conflicts during his reign caused Raikane and his wife Matlhape-A-Phuting (daughter of Tshwane I) to flee to Lesotho. Whilst there, a son Mmanotshe was born. Kgosi Lerotholi of Lesotho name Mmanotshe Lerothodi I. Lerothodi I was ordained KGOSI in 1880. Lerothodi I converted to Christianity evidenced by the fact that he married one wife - Moleboge Sanni Machele (daughter of Malefyane "Mantsika" Machele - nee Pooe). Mantsika was the daughter of Tshwane I. Lerothodi I also commissioned the building of a Church - known as "Kereke e Tshweu" where he was the first Bakwena Kgosi to be Baptised. He had dispatched Rauwane Sepeng to Botswana to get German Missionaries to come and do Missionary work in Bethanie.Lerothodi I had the twins, Motsile Johnny (married to Dorothea Mabalane, daughter of Kgosi Mabalane kwa-Phiri) and Kapeng (married to Johannah Moserwa Machele).
During the reign of Motsile, the community revolted against the German missionaries and an attempt to burn down the church was made. The community was divided. Those against the German missionaries reffered themselves as "Ma-foro" and the others were reffered to as "Ma-agter". Invariably, Ma-foro revolted against Motsile as they felt that they did not get his support. Ma-foro walked-out and built a church, popularly known as "Kereke e e ko Dimo" and the old church remained e "Tshweu". This conflict is known as Ntwa ya Ma-foro le Ma-agter.
Tragedy struck the Royal Family when Motsile and Kapeng died within a short period (Motsile in 1939 and Kapeng in 1940).
At the time of his death Kapeng was Kgosi and was stationed in Bethanie and Charlengne in Hebron.
Because the heir to the throne - Lerothodi II was still a minor, Mokgele, known as Phiri-a-Feta acted as regent. After the death of Mokgele in 1949, Melore (uncle to Lerothodi II) acted as a regent.
The Bakwena faced challenges again in the early sixties, when Lerothodi II was to ascend the throne - the regent Melore refused to give up the throne. The Royal Family and the Community experienced turmoil evidenced by a conflict which is referred to as Ntwa ya Mabilibili and the characteristics of Ntwa ya Maforo le Ma-agter. This matter was reffered to the courts where it was determined that Lerothodi II was the legitimate heir to the throne of the Bakwena ba Mogopa and was ordained Kgosi in 1960.
Lerothodi II was married to Rosalia Mamogale (nee Rasephei a niece of the Matsieng Clan in Lesotho). They were blessed with Letlhogile Royal, Kgomotse Jacobine, Motlalepula Christine, Maetsane Othilda and Molebogeng Patricia.
During hs reign, Lerothodi II, commissioned building of schools and introduced compulsary education, initially up to Std 6 and later Form 3; introduced structured development of the villages; encouraged agricultural farming; encouraged hygiene and decreed that all plots had to have toilets (pit-privies)
Lerothodi II died in 1997, and was succeeded by Letlhogile Royal-Pearl in December 1997. There were no conflict during the reign of Letlhogile - peace and happiness prevailed. Letlhogile, like his predecessors was in the process of taking the Bakwena ba Mogopa to the higher levels. He had initiated moves to better the business relations the Bakwena had with big business, namely Xstrata, Kelgran and Marlin, negotiatinga joint venture with BizAfrica/Afplants to mine platinum and had applied for the mineral right on the land belonging to the Bakwena. Unfortunately Letlhogile could not realise his dreams as he died in 2003.
Letlhogile has left the comminunity with heirs to the throne - Motheo and Otlotleng, and their 4 Borakgadi
Motheo is the currrent Kgosi of the Bakwena ba Mogopa!
