The Acting Kgosi of Bakgatla ba Kgafela Ramono Pilane Lenchwe has assured some of his subjects that he is still the traditional leader of the mineral-rich community in Moruleng and 31 other villages.
Pilane Lenchwe addressed a gathering of the Bakgatla ba Kgafela in Sefikile near Rustenburg in the North West.
This is after the Tshomankane family, coronated Kgosigadi Kaekwa Pilane-Motshegwe, saying she is the new leader of Bakgatla ba Kgafela in Moruleng.
They argued that they can’t take instructions from Kgosikgolo Kgafela Kgafela, saying he is from Botswana.
However, kgosi Pilane Lenchwe says he remains the kgosi in Moruleng.
“The issue here is not about the traditional leadership of Bakgatla. This is all about the nation’s wealth. There’s a person who was reportedly coronated. She can’t authorise anything. Even she has to come to me for proof of residence and will sign it off.”
Bakgatla ba Kgafela royal family to inaugurate its preferred candidate to become the queen
Leadership of the Bakgatla ba Kgafela remains highly contested
The tussle for traditional leadership of Bakgatla ba Kgafela at Moruleng is far from being over.
A group in the royal family had selected their preferred traditional leader, as reported earlier in the month.
The Tshomankane Royal family says they don’t recognise both Ramono Pilane Lenchwe and Kgafela Kgafela because they are from Mochudi, in Botswana.
Dr Justice Peloakgosi of the Tshomankane Royal Family says, “He was acting for six months. He was just acting Kgosi. We are going to take over the offices in Moruleng. We will definitely govern through normal, proper traditional council from all the villages, 32 villages. And we must emphasize that, because it is important for bakgatla, to know what is happening,” says Peloakgosi.
Bakgatla ba Kgafela royal family to inaugurate its preferred candidate to become the queen:
