The leader of the ruling All Basotho Convention (ABC) party in Lesotho, Nkaku Kabi, has thrown his weight behind the Terene faction of the famo music gangs alleged to be behind illegal mining in SA.
Addressing a rally in Butha-Buthe on Sunday, Kabi said the coalition government was supportive of Terene Famo and also criticised South Africans who accuse Basotho citizens residing in SA of being behind crimes being committed on South African soil.
Kabi, who is former ABC founder Tom Thabane’s successor, also took a swipe at the Lesotho government and politicians for failing to build schools and create jobs for young people who have sought relief in SA. Kabi is also a close ally of the Terene gang leader, Sarele Sello, also known as Lehlanya,
A fortnight ago, thousands of irate Krugersdorp residents attacked a group of illegal miners – known in SA as zama zamas – following the gang-rape of eight women who were recording a music video at a mining dump. Police have blamed illegal immigrants, part of whom are Basotho, for the crime.
Kabi, whose party is alleged to be enjoying financial support from the proceeds of illegal mining, especially during the electioneering period ahead of Lesotho’s national polls on October 7, said he was going to ensure that the famo gangs were taken care of in all spheres of their lives.
“I am holding Lehlanya’s hand because he is a Lesotho national who speaks the same language as us,” Kabi said.
“Over the years they have been wronged by Lesotho’s political leaders in that their districts did not afford them enough education as they would have wished and when they try to make a living there are some leaders who call them rebels. All I can say is that those politicians who are calling them thus are cowards.
“Those who call yourselves leaders are cowards because you ought to have made sure that there were decent schools in their areas. Instead of you shouldering the blame because you have failed them, you choose rather to warn other people who might want to go anywhere near them not to do so lest they also be labelled rebels.
“These men will one day leave SA and come back to their country to live in harmony, and for those who are persecuting them, you should know that you are doing that to your own blood, and one day you will also be arrested despite you having your legal documents.
“These are men who are accused of causing instability in SA, and I swear that no one has a right to discriminate against these men like it’s being done. No one should be discriminated [against] for believing in their culture.”
This is not the first time Kabi has pledged his support for the famo gangs. Recently he travelled to Klerksdorp on a similar mission and has even lauded Lehlanya for recruiting more than 40,000 members for the ABC in the build-up to the elections.
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