"Instructions from above" article
THE veins of Semane Molotlegi contain some of the bluest blood in Africa. Her cousin was Sir
Seretse Khama. Her husband is Chief Edward Lebone Molotlegi, chief of the 300 000-strong
Bafokeng, on whose territory lies most of South Africa's platinum. Chief Molotlegi' s palace at
Phokeng is distinguished by a magnified statue of a crocodile rising from a garden pool. A
shaky relationship has existed for some time between the Bafokeng authorities and the
Bophuthatswana government, as a result of which Chief Molotlegi is indefinitely abroad. In his
absence, Mrs Molotlegi is responsible for aspects of the tribe's affairs. Here she sets out her
side of a vexing story.
THE veins of Semane Molotlegi contain some of the bluest blood in Africa. Her cousin was Sir
Seretse Khama. Her husband is Chief Edward Lebone Molotlegi, chief of the 300 000-strong
Bafokeng, on whose territory lies most of South Africa's platinum. Chief Molotlegi' s palace at
Phokeng is distinguished by a magnified statue of a crocodile rising from a garden pool. A
shaky relationship has existed for some time between the Bafokeng authorities and the
Bophuthatswana government, as a result of which Chief Molotlegi is indefinitely abroad. In his
absence, Mrs Molotlegi is responsible for aspects of the tribe's affairs. Here she sets out her
side of a vexing story.