Intrusion into Rural Tribal Space in Botswana: The Case of the Trans-Kalahari Motor Race, 1975–1981

In line with the international sports boycott of apartheid, by the mid 1970s Botswana was not allowing black South African football teams to compete in Botswana, despite their immense popularity and influence in the country. Ironically, in 1975, the government agreed to host an exclusively white motor sport dominated by South Africans. This article argues that the government of Botswana succumbed to claims by the South African organisers of the race, that Botswana would benefit from international publicity and a tourism boost. Reported ‘tremendous interest from State House in the race’ further suggests that the first family may have prevailed on the government through President Sir Seretse Khama to host the race in Botswana. The government rode roughshod over resistance from tribal communities, local district leadership and some British expatriates worried about the negative social and environmental effects of the race. The government also disregarded the Tswana tradition of consultation with the people through a kgotla forum. The staging of the race ended abruptly in 1981.