Stalemate in Bakgatla SA chieftainship battle
Lerato Maleke | Thursday July 3, 2014 06:59
- Judgement reserved in contentious case
- Thousands cross over to support Kgafela
- SA border orders tribesman to remove leopard
Kgafela wants a judgement recognising his supremacy in the tribe, both in Mochudi and Moruleng as well as the right to elect the council of elders in Moruleng.
Late yesterday afternoon, Judge President, Mashangu Monica Leeuw reserved judgement to an unspecified date after hearing arguments from both sides in a packed courtroom. Arguments in the matter centred on South African legal provisions and statutes around chieftainancy, although Nyalala’s counsel also raised issues around Kgafela’s legal status in South Africa and his pending criminal charges in Botswana.
The court also heard that North West Premier, Thandi Modise is investigating all chieftainship disputes in the province, prompting unsuccessful suggestions that the case await the probe’s outcome. It is understood yesterday’s case was only the first in several legal suits Kgafela has filed against his uncle. Kgafela’s position is that as the paramount chief, he retains the right to appoint both the chief in Moruleng and other key positions. Nyalala, Kgafela argues, was installed by the late paramount chief, Kgosi Linchwe II, who was Kgafela’s father. On the other hand, Nyalala has said his contention is that Kgafela did not follow procedure in derecognising him. Earlier, at 5am in Mochudi main Kgotla, at least 2,000 tribesman assembled and set off for Mmabatho in a convoy of vehicles.
The convoy included ordinary tribesmen, Kgatleng Dikgosana mainly from the river villages and prominent politicians who included Umbrella for Democratic Change parliamentary hopeful, Isaac Davids.
The gusto was soon dampened however, as Botswana and South African border officials ordered the crowd to remove their traditional garments, which consisted of m kobolo (animal skin).
“They advised that permits are required in order to cross over wearing mekobolo,” said One Mothosa, a close friend of Kgafela’s. “Women as usual had mateise and megagolwane (German print dresses and shawls), while the men had their merokolo (traditional sticks).”