Time To Vote For Righteous Servant Leaders

Written by: Pearl Kupe
Article source: JOY! Magazine

Tribute to Mme Mogolo Semane Bonolo Molotlegi
On November 1st, the nation will be going to vote in the municipal elections. Voter apathy has been prevalent in the last couple of elections, but recent statistics show that approximately 26.2 million voters are registered for the upcoming elections. 55% of the registered voters are females. The hope and prayer is that the citizens of South Africa are waking up from their previous voter lethargy and complacency and are coming to the realisation that there will be no change until and unless they exercise their faith along with works. This means that as citizens of South Africa we must not only pray, but also take time to vote. The call is for a large voter turnout and for the citizens of South Africa to prayerfully vote for righteous leaders with godly characters and servant hearts.

 

Mme Mogolo Semane Bonolo Molotlegi: A role model
One such servant leader was the late Queen Mother of the Royal Bafokeng. In November, we acknowledge this as the first anniversary of her transition. This article is dedicated to her memory and her legacy. Mme Mogolo, as she was known to most, was an exemplary leader. Born into royalty herself, she was the only daughter of Kgosi Tshekedi Khama of the Bamangwato people of Botswana. She married iKgosi Lebone Edward Molotlegi of the Royal Bafokeng Nation and became their Queen and later Queen Mother of the Royal Bafokeng after the passing of the King.

The late Queen Mother of the Royal Bafokeng Mme Mogolo Semane Bonolo Molotlegi

Mme Mogolo – ‘Great Mother’
The title Mme Mogolo means “Great Mother” in SeTswana. It was a title she preferred over the English title of Queen Mother. It was also a title that better suited her in that it described who she really was and demonstrated the heart that she had for people. Mme Mogolo was the epitome of a great mother. She was indeed a “great mother” in name and in deed. She understood the importance of the family as the pillar of society and the importance of having a solid and unified family. Family to her, was not just those who were connected biologically. Family transcended biological connection.

 

She was loving and at the same time a firm disciplinarian. She would correct you out of love and with an understanding of the importance of biblically-based correction. She led with a firm but consistent hand of love and godliness. A woman who was not afraid to speak her mind. She was not only mother to her biological children, but was mother to the nation of the Royal Bafokeng and South Africa at large. I remember her explaining in Brussels at a conference we were at, how they took the decision and responsibility of building schools for their neighbouring villages so that they could also be the beneficiaries of good education. That was a demonstration of motherhood at its best!

Mme Mogolo as a servant leader
One of the most popular Tswana idioms, “Kgosi ka kgosi ka batho” acknowledges that the basis for kingship or rulership is so that a king can serve his people. The basis for leadership must be to serve people and servanthood must always be the foundation for any type of leadership. Mme Mogolo understood this principle very well and lived it all her life. I had the privilege of watching her fulfil this mandate in the course of working together with her on many assignments. She would only involve herself in assignments that had to do with the upliftment of others. She focussed on the people of the Bafokeng nation and also on women. She founded the Bafokeng Women’s Club and Thuto Thebe Educational Fund and was the former Area President for the Associated Country Women of the World in Southern Africa. A strong advocate for education and health.

Mme Mogolo’s legacy
Her legacy transcended and went beyond the boundaries of South Africa. Her impact was felt in many nations. As a patron of the East, West & Africa organisation, an organisation that I had the privilege of representing as the Africa Representative, she made a clear and lasting mark and impression. As a member of the Crans Montana African Women Leaders Forum, I also had the privilege of witnessing her accept the Crans Montana Leadership award in Belgium.
These were but two examples of her extraordinary impact and legacy. At the awards ceremony, she surprised all the world leaders when accepting her leadership award by singing a beautiful rendition of “You raise me up”. She received many international awards for her exemplary leadership and always received them with grace and humility. In accepting the awards, she never failed to mention her nation and always motivated and encouraged others to serve their communities and build their nations.

A woman of faith
Mme Mogolo was a woman of great faith. She was God-fearing and God-loving and she raised her children in the fear of God. She would call me often to pray together. I will miss one of my favourite people and prayer partners. During my last visit to her at the Royal Bafokeng palace, although frail, she still pressed in to worship God and sang Amazing Grace, one of her favourite songs.

As we recognise and acknowledge the leadership of a great woman, we also pray for the rising of a generation of women leaders who will have generous servant hearts like Mme Mogolo. Re leboga Modimo ka wena Aunty Semane!
You have run your race with excellence and left us a great
legacy to carry on with!

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Date published: 20/10/2021
Feature image: The late Queen Mother of the Royal Bafokeng
Dr Pearl Kupe is an attorney and consultant to world leaders and international organisations. She is the international president of the Global Forum for Women Entrepreneurs. Email pearl.kupe@gmail.com or visit pearlkupe.co.za or follow her Facebook page, Kingdom Transformer Pearl Kupe.

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