Kgafela entrenches himself as Bakgatla Kgosi

Lerato Maleke | Friday December 12, 2014 13:52

 

Kgafela is expected to address the meeting from Lesetlheng Ward in Moruleng, where he is currently based.

The meeting follows a previous one, which was held at the same venue a week ago and attended by scores of Bakgatla from Botswana and Moruleng.

At that meeting, Kgafela announced that he had appointed an administrator who would deal with the construction of his own tribal offices in Moruleng, preferably Lesetlheng.

Kgafela, who has had a running dispute with his uncle Nyalala Pilane over control of tribal assets, has a large following in Lesetlheng.

One of Kgafela’s supporters, attorney Rampho Pheto confirmed plans were underway to build Kgafela’s office in Lesetlheng.

“The main issue really at the previous meeting was to discuss the issue of building tribal offices for Kgosikgolo Kgafela at Lesetlheng.

“This weekend, we expect Kgosikgolo to update the morafe on the initial work by the administrator,” he said.

Pheto said as things were, Bakgatla themselves could decide how they wanted the tribe to proceed as the South African government has made it clear that morafe wa Bakgatla in Moruleng has not been reconstituted.

That would mean the tribe remained the same as during apartheid times, when it was recognised as a two-tier, cross-border tribe under Kgafela’s father Linchwe II.

“This has not changed, and we are following this arrangement, which effectively recognises Linchwe II’s heir Kgafela II as our Kgosikgolo,” he said.

He said the Sunday meeting would put to rest once and for all any doubts over Kgafela’s legitimacy as Kgosikgolo, as papers that would be presented would prove.

The papers would also show support of Linchwe’s leadership by former South African president Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki.

Hopefully, they would also have a 1999 Traditional Leaders Commission’s report, which allowed Pilane to act on behalf of Linchwe II, and which Pilane is subject to, as he signed the affidavit thereto.

“Pilane knows in his heart of hearts that Linchwe II was the Kgosikgolo, that he appointed him to hold the fort.

“He knows Kgafela as heir is now the Kgosikgolo,” he said.

Nyalala Pilane’s cellphone diverted to his spokesperson Caroline Mmutla who said Nyalala remained the tribe’s paramount chief.