Inquiry into the traditional leadership of Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela continue

African News Agency (ANA)

Corruption at the administration of the Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela tribe under Nyalala Pilane. Photo: YouTube

Paramount chief of Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela will continue to testify at the Maluleke Commission of Inquiry in Rustenburg on Wednesday.

North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo appointed Judge George Maluleke to chair the commission probing the succession dispute of Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela in Moruleng, near Rustenburg.

On Tuesday, paramount chief, Kgafela Kgafela II told the commission how forensic investigator Paul O’ Sullivan unearthed the rot of corruption at the administration of the tribe under Kgosi Nyalala Pilane.

He said O’Sullivan was hired to probe the depth of alleged corruption after he struggled to receive documents about the resolution taken by the tribe as well as minutes of meeting of the community since 2012.

The Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela tribal area straddles Botswana and South Africa. The tribe is found in Mochudi, Botswana and in Moruleng in South Africa.

Kgosi Nyalala Pilane is the leader of the tribe in South Africa, while Kgafela Kgafela II based in Botswana is the paramount chief of Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela.

The dispute surrounding the chieftaincy of the more than 300,000 Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela in Moruleng, surfaced when Kgafela II relocated from Botswana to South Africa in May 2012. He left Botswana following charges of assault were levelled against him. He aslo had other legal battles with the government of Botswana.

Last week Pilane and the traditional council approached the North High Court to stop Kgafela II from installing David Mpule Pheto as the acting kgosi (chief).

The court ruled in favour of Kgosi Pilane and stopped Kgafela II from installing an acting kgosi.

The Royal Family, Kgosi Nyalala Pilane and the traditional council argued that Kgafela II, David Mpule Pheto and their supporters did not follow the practises, culture, customs and traditions of the Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela traditional community and the laws of the country in seeking to install an acting kgosi.

Kgafela II had planned to install an acting kgosi on September 24 in Lesetlheng.

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SOURCEAfrican News Agency (ANA)