Female Supremacy Articles - Page 13

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She went on to become a department manager for Barclay's Bank and the mother of four girls, divorcing after six years of marriage. When she made her bid for the throne, she was working as a floor manager for an office supply firm. Now she lives with her mother, who complains that she lets the villagers bother her at home.

As chief, Ms. Seboko is a mix of community conscience, family counselor, dispute mediator, crime prevention officer and judge. She presides over civil cases involving amounts under $1,000 or 70 sheep or goats, and criminal cases where the penalty is less than three years in prison or a fine. In certain cases, she can order six strokes of the cane.

She earns about $2,000 a month, paid by the local government. She also served as head of the 16-member House of Chiefs, which advises the government and Parliament on traditional issues, before stepping down in January.

Her manner is businesslike and friendly, except when it comes to the touchy subject of how her family fought over her ascension. Wary of offending her uncles afresh, she firmly cut off that line of inquiry in an interview.

The weekend kgotla meeting showed how the bonds of male-dominated tradition were slowly loosening. For three hours, more than 100 people wrangled over issues from roaming cattle to wayward children to suspicious self-proclaimed priests.