Botshabelo\'s iron lady: Mma Mojuta

Source : Kutlwano

Author : Baleseng Batlotleng

Location : Selebi Phikwe

Event : Interview

When people in Selebi Phikwe, but more precisely in the notorious location of Botshabelo speak of her name, they do so in low and hashed tones. They tremble at the mere mention of her name. And there is a reason for that. 

“Ke tla go isa kwa ga Mma-Mojuta” is a very famous expression here. Not only has the tall, straight and heavily built Olebogeng Mojuta gained good standing in her community but she has also come to be venerated by those who loved to hate her, those who wished death upon her after they were caught on the wrong side of the law and had to face the wrath of Mma-Mojuta.

“Heela Mma-Mojuta rra o gagamaditse molao mo Botshabelo mole. Thakanyana e tshesane e le nna ke fudugetseng mo Phikwe ke fitlhela e tsentse tsebe-tsebe o e botse. Moretlwa o a lela ebile ga se gantsi o ka fitlhela dikgannyana tsa botlhoka tsebe, o letsa thupa,” whispers a middle aged gentleman who only identifies himself as Motshephula as he calls for a second round of his favourite drink at a neighbour`s drinking hole.

I immediately notice that the reason behind speaking so low is to avoid being overheard by a prying group of young men who are still surprised by my strange face. Again a single false utterance about Mma-Mojuta can also land Motshephula into serious trouble. He had to lower his voice when I asked “kante Mma-Mojuta ke mang?”

The Botshabelo court president is a woman with outstanding qualities, endowed with a remarkable leadership talent. Botshabelo location had been punctuated with incessant notoriety but so steadfast had she been that she overcame all the disorder and led her subjects with supreme authority.

In complete contrast with what I pick from the streets, the Mma-Mojuta I finally meet at the kgotla is something totally different. Her expression of countenance is sweet and agreeable. 

“Ee rra molao o gagametse mo ga rona mo. Tota ka le wena o itse fa Botshabelo e le lone lekeishane la ntlha mo Phikwe mo le ne la nna le batho ba mekgwa ka mefuta e e farologaneng. Jaanong botlhoka tsebe ya nna selo se se neng sa tshwenya ka lebaka mme fela seemo seo ke itebagantse le sone ka gore mophane wa lela mo kgotleng,” shares the well-built court president amidst a hearty laughter.

Kgope Kgosimore, an old resident of Botshabelo bears testimony to the efforts of Mma-Mojuta in rooting out the evils in his location. The old man, who still wears custom made street wear associated with the pantsula sub-culture is adamant that they are blessed to have a leader of Mma-Mojuta`s mold.

Mma-Mojuta, known to her parents as Mama, grew up under strict Setswana customs “o ne a itse fa bagolo ba tlotlwa”. She started off as a court clerk in Molepolole under the late Bakwena Kgosi Bonewamang Sechele in 1972.

She was then transferred to the Central District Council and worked at Mmadinare as a senior court clerk. She arrived in Selebi Phikwe at Botshabelo kgotla in 1981 working under the late Kehaeng Kedikilwe, father to Vice President Ponatshego Kedikilwe. 

She actually started as a deputy court president at the same kgotla that she officially opened - Kagiso kgotla. She had been court president at Ikageleng before she finally settled at Botshabelo in 2003, a post she holds up to date. 

“Fa ke goroga mo  Botshabelo go ne go swa motho. O ne o ka seke wa tswa kwa ga Rralenyeletse o ya ko Botshabelo South. Go ne go nkga go sa bola. Mme dilo tse tsa tloga tsa tsena mo tseleng,” she reckons.

Mma-Mojuta had looked up to her uncle as a role model. Her uncle, Maleme Modise, was a strict disciplinarian who strongly believed in the Setswana adage molemo wa ngwana ke thupa. Born in a family of only two, she grew up as her parents` little girl and became a “spoilt brat”.

Gradually she came to realise that discipline came first and she became hard-at-heart, not giving her two first born boys any chance to become spoilt too. At times her children thought their mother was too hard on them.

Nonetheless, the 61 year-old mother of four has established a motherly relationship with her subjects. “Le fa ke tsamaya mo motseng mo ke itse sentle hela gore ga gona se se ka ntshosang ba bona mmaabone hela,” she adds with utmost confidence.

In Botshabelo, there is cheerful energy from everyone you see on the streets. Just across the railway line from the city centre the location comes into full view.

The small mud huts and run down shacks become visible in stark contrast to the colourful shades and tree lined streets in Phase One location, a stone throw away. Shacks and run-down structures still abound in Botshabelo, painting a grey picture of high numbers of unemployment and crime infested area. Ends

Teaser:

“Heela Mma-Mojuta rra o gagamaditse molao mo Botshabelo mole. Thakanyana e tshesane e le nna ke fudugetseng mo Phikwe ke fitlhela e tsentse tsebe-tsebe o e botse. Moretlwa o a lela ebile ga se gantsi o ka fitlhela dikgannyana tsa botlhoka tsebe, o letsa thupa,”