Victory is in sight – Kgafela II
Exiled BaKgatla baga Kgafela Sovereign, Kgosikgolo Kgafela Kgafela II has almost completed the mission he set out to achieve in Moruleng, South Africa some six years ago, which was to reclaim the Morafe’s stolen assets.
Kgafela assured his subjects during a Kgothakgothe gathering on Sunday at Kgabutle Kgotla in Leasetlheng village, Moruleng, South Africa, that: “We have accomplished our task, there’s nothing new to say!” What sounded like sweet music to the ears of the gathering was that the man who Kgafela has pursued for the better part of the six years – Kgosi Nyalala Pilane – is scheduled to appear before the Commission investigating BaKgatla baga Kgafela Chieftainship on May 21st 2018 at the Rustenburg Civic Centre.
Kgafela, like other speakers before him –Morena Rampho Pheto and the secretary general of the Workers Committee of the BaKgatla baga Kgafela Strategic Investment Company, Nicholas Kubu- appealed to BaKgatla to throng the Civic Centre in huge numbers to hear for themselves what Nyalala Pilane has to say about the accusations of corruption and maladministration levelled against him and his cohorts in the Traditional Council.
Nyalala stands accused of siphoning billions of Rands of BaKgatla baga Kgafela monies including investments in platinum mining conglomerates to finance his lavish and opulent lifestyle whilst the Morafe wallowed in paucity.
He has managed to evade countless court actions instigated by various pressure groups and members of the BaKgatla baga Kgafela tribe in Moruleng and some of its 34 villages. But, a seemingly contented Kgafela II on Sunday waxed confident, as he bellowed on the ground below the mighty Pilanesberg mountain range threatening that the looters are going to spew out (tlhatsa) the money they have stolen. He was speaking to an equally receptive audience that punctuated his speech with hearty laughter and giggles at every jab he threw at Nyalala and his cohorts. Only three things remain before total victory is declared.
And Kgabo, as Kgafela is affectionately known, again appealed to his people to be focussed. These things are the Commission of Enquiry, which resumes on May 21st; the Gauteng High Court matter relating to the tribe’s involvement in the drafting of the Mining Charter and lastly, the Constitutional Court case that the people of Lesetlheng have launched citing lack of consultation when the Platinum Mine was built on their land. In between the commission and the court cases there is likelihood that the Minister responsible for minerals in South Africa will consult BaKgatla on the issue of Mining Charter.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has also made an undertaking to hold consultative meetings with the peoples of North West Province to address their grievances. Kubu, Pheto and Kgafela urged BaKgatla to use the opportunity to air their grievances to the president. Above everything else, Kgafela II has managed to triumph over his adversaries.
This was clearly evident by the overwhelming support the Kgothakgothe received from members of the royal family both in Moruleng and Mochudi. A sight to behold for many, perhaps a demonstration of unity of purpose, Kgafela II sat at the high table clutching tightly at his royal staff (sceptre) flanked on either side by his uncles, Kgosi Segale Linchwe; Mothibe Linchwe; Morena Mochele; Ramono Linchwe; Rampho Pheto and his representative in Mochudi, Kgosi Bana Sekai, as well as his next of kin, Mmusi and Bakgatla Kgafela.