The Eventful Month of August in the Annals of History of Mochudi

Abstract

The month of August 2021, marks 152 years since a section of Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela under Kgosi
Kgamanyane fled the Transvaal arriving two years later in the present day Mochudi which at the time
was a territory of Bakwena of Kgosi Sechele I. It was on 1 August 1869 when the trip from Moruleng
across the Madikwe or Marico River started with another section of the morafe (ethnic group) remaining
in Moruleng. When they left, they knew their destination but camped at a place called Tshwene-Tshwene
for two years. They had the ‘promised land’ in the Kgalagadi at a place belonging to the Bakwena led by
Kgosi Sechele. The promised land was offered to them a few years prior when they had assisted Sechele’s
Bakwena against Bangwaketse to recover their cattle from the latter. The cattle had been hidden at a place
called Segeng near Kanye.