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Ngwepe as their link to Kgoši Matlala 488 . After the purchase went
through, things changed rapidly, especially with the death of Headman
Kitiki Ngwepe in 1949 489 . At the time of his death, his only son and heir,
John Phuti Ngwepe, was still a minor and could not ascend the
headmanship 490 . Matlonkana Ramoroka, a wealthy original Makgabeng
inhabitant who actively led the movement of purchasing farms, lent his
hand in supporting the Ngwepe family as he was related to them 491 .
Matlonkana effectively became regent and he helped to lead his people
in good faith as the young John, the heir to headmanship, was still
growing up.
After the death of Matlonkana in the early 1950s, his son Calvin, was
apparently determined to wrest the headmanship permanently from the
Ngwepe family 492 to his Ramoroka household. Calvin’s power hunger and
ambition split the whole village into two opposing camps. Apparently,
Calvin used the enormous wealth of livestock which he inherited from his
father, Matlonkana, to build power around him. With the power of wealth,
488 Interview, Samuel Tlhaahlaa Ngewpe, Early Dawn village, 13 May 2003.
489 Volume 2/2/42, Part 1, Purchase of Farms Early Dawn 995 and Millstream no. 996. Bakone
Tribe under Chief Sekgoare Matlala.
490 Interview, Samuel Tlhaahlaa Ngewpe, Early Dawn village, 13 May 2003.
491 Ibid
492 Ibid.
282