Nyalala was ousted through a court order sought by Kgafela’s other uncle, Kgosi Ramono Pilane Linchwe. Kgafela had written to the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi, instructing him to remove Ramono as Kgosi and install his son Matshego Kgafela. He was, however, shocked when Mokgosi cancelled Ramono’s certificate and issued Nyalala with a new certificate. Just as Kgafela was busy preparing court papers to reverse the decision, Ramono got an order that removed Nyalala from the seat, at least for now. Ramono had whisked to court the Premier, Nyalala, Bakgatla Royal family, and chairperson of the North West House of Traditional Leaders on urgency challenging his ouster and the instalment of Nyalala as Kgosi. Pending the finalisation of the application, Ramono was reinstated as the Kgosi/Senior Traditional Leader of the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela. Further, Nyalala was interdicted from holding himself out as the Kgosi/Senior Traditional Leader of the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela and purporting to perform any acts as Kgosi/Senior Traditional Leader of the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela. According to Kgafela’s spokesperson, Lebogang Maname, Ramono has done his work to clean the mess that he himself created by opening the window for Nyalala by not being obedient and trustworthy to the royal family. “If it was not for him, we could not have had this kind of Nyalala and Premier drama. What is needed is justice for Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela,” he said.
He said the royal uncles had neglected their royal duties and were trying to cling to the delegated power of bogosi for them to enrich themselves rather than building a better future for the tribe to unite morafe. “They should be bringing peace and stability to the tribe and make sure that our heritage is well protected by respecting and adhering to our customary law, culture, and the vision of the reigning King Kgafela Kgafela II,” he said. Maname added that the ruling is also a confirmation that the only person who has a duty and power to appoint Kgosi to rule on his behalf is Kgosikgolo, not the Premier, the ANC, or any other person. “The hand of God is protecting bogosi at all times,” he said. Kgafela and the royal family have since written to President Cyril Ramaphosa, calling for his intervention. In their petition to Ramaphosa, Bakgatla are demanding urgent intervention to uphold constitutional rights protecting traditional customs. They also seek a meeting with Ramaphosa and the withdrawal of Nyalala’s certificate, calling Mokgosi’s move “a violation with impunity”.
