He became the tribe's King around 1880, after the death of his father, and secured the Tlokwa's status as the "smallest independent tribal unit"[1] in the Bechuanaland Protectorate.

Upon Kgosi's death, Matlapeng was too young to succeed, and his older brother Lesage acted as chief in his place, subsequently leading the Tlokwa into an alliance with Sebetwane (the leader of the Makololo).

However, Setshele soon accused the Tlokwa of cowardice in a battle against the Ngwato, and Matlapeng ended the alliance (on non-violent terms) and led his people to Tshwene-Tshwene (near Vleischfontein in present-day South Africa).

Four years after his accession to the Kingdom, three of his brothers left the tribe to make their own ways in the world, although this was not an unusual occurrence amongst the Tswana.

That land fell within the nominal territory of the Kwena, but Gaborone erased the previous ill-will between the tribes by sending Setshele a gift of money and cattle.

110 years old, and a splendid type of the dignified courteous chief of old times before they were spoilt by European customs and clothes and education and all that rot."

[1] After Gaborone's death, the Bechuanaland Protectorate negotiated the return of the Tlokwa land from the BSAC, and created the Batlokwa Reserve.