TEMPERS flared-up at Bakgatlha Ba Kgafela in Moruleng after the paramount chief of Bakgatlha Ba Kgafela from Mochudi in Botswana, Kgosi Kgafela Kgafela announced on Monday that Rampho Pheto will succeed Kgosi Nyalala Pilane.

This came as a surprise after the family announced that Merafe Ramonnwe Molefe was the right chief.

However, the royal family said they will not leave this lying down. Bakgatlha Ba Kgafela representative from Moruleng, Segale Pilane said they distance themselves from Kgafela Kgafela’s utterances. He said the family will continue to endorse Merafe Ramonnwe Molefe as their chief in September.

“We are extremely concerned about the delays in finalising the process to the throne of Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela in Pilanesberg. Many will remember that in December 2015, Premier Supra Mahumapelo presented findings of the North West Provincial Committee on Traditional Leadership Claims and Disputes to the Royal Family.

“Subsequent to the announcement, while the family was busy studying the report and findings, Mahumapelo issued a statement that he had decided to set aside the outcomes of the committee in favour of judicial commission of enquiry to investigate Bogosi of Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela,” Pilane said.

He added that the family was conscious of the impact of the delays and how they manifested both internally within the family. Pilane said that these delays are a source of conflicts in the community.

“We have also been following with keen interest activities in Lesetlheng village involving Kgosi Kgafela Kgafela of Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela in Mochudi, Botswana. The families have unanimously agreed that his activities in Moruleng and pronouncements in the media are causing instability with the potential to flare up serious conflicts and violence in the area.

“This untenable behaviour can neither be tolerated nor allowed to continue. We intend taking the necessary legal remedial action with relevant organs of state to stop Kgafela’s shenanigans,” he said.

The development has seen warring camps exchanging strong words indicating that the issue could be far from getting resolved.

“Gloves are now off! We have noted Kgafela Kgafela’s announcement in Lesetlheng of his appointment of a certain Rampho Pheto as acting Kgosi and his installation will take place on September 24. We further wish to advise our community and the people of South Africa as a whole, that the announcement which appeared in some publications in Botswana and South Africa that Rampho Pheto will be installed as “acting Kgosi” are not only false but mischievous,” Pilane said.

However Gabanakgosi Pheto support Kgafela Kgafela’s move and said it was a tradition all along that Kgosis are appointed by the paramount chief.

“This has been happening during ancient times. So we cannot ignore it now. All appointed chiefs were appointed by Kgafela Kgafela’s forefathers. Now he needs to continue with that,” Pheto said.

Kgafela Kgafela’s uncle, Ramonnwe Lencwe from Mochudi village in Botswana said according to the Bakgatlha tradition, the paramount chief is the only one who have powers to appoint the next chief.

“This started back in 1903 when Bakgatlha Bakgafela chief, Kgosi Kgamanyane left for Botswana with the other part of the Bakgatlha tribe,” Lencwe said.

-TDN

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