25th May 2021
The Balete land case will get even more interesting if the Friday outcome is appealed at the Court of Appeal (CoA). That is because nine years ago, the CoA made findings that are in stark contrast to those made by a three-member panel comprising of Justices Michael Mothobi, Mokwadi Gabanagae, and Gabriel Komboni.
The dispute is over the remainder of farm Forest Hill No 9 – KO which Balete bought from Aaron Siew in 1925. Ownership was transferred to
Kgosi Seboko Mokgosi, in his capacity as supreme traditional leader of the Balete, for and on behalf of the tribe, which had itself contributed to the purchase price of £3000. On 12 February 1970, the tribe transferred a portion of the farm, (some 403 acres), to the state. A further portion of the farm was granted to the state in 1987.