Bakgatla Ba Kgafela Royal Family in Moruleng has formally welcomed the reinstatement and recognition of Kgosi Nyalala Pilane as the legitimate traditional leader of the community. This decision, made by North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi on 17 January 2025, marks a significant turning point in a protracted leadership battle that has fractured the community for years.

In a statement released today, Royal Family representative Segale Pilane described the Premier’s decision as “a courageous and principled step to restore justice, constitutional order, and traditional sovereignty to the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela in Moruleng.” The reinstatement, they argue, corrects the controversial actions of former Premiers Job Mokgoro and Bushy Maape, whose removal of Kgosi Nyalala Pilane was, according to the Royal Family, influenced by external figures with questionable motives.

Kgafela Kgafela: A Fugitive’s Shadow Over Moruleng. 

At the heart of this leadership turmoil is Kgafela Kgafela, a traditional leader from Botswana who has long asserted claims over the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela in Moruleng. The Royal Family has issued strong accusations against Kgafela Kgafela, alleging that his involvement in the community's leadership disputes was part of a “deliberate and unlawful campaign to undermine the sovereignty of Bakgatla Ba Kgafela in South Africa.”

Describing Kgafela Kgafela as a “fugitive from the law,” the Royal Family claims that he exploited political connections to influence the former provincial leadership and orchestrate the removal of Kgosi Nyalala Pilane. “Kgafela Kgafela’s actions were a blatant attempt to impose extraterritorial authority over our community, disregarding both the South African Constitution and our customary laws,” said Segale Pilane.

Moreover, the Royal Family has called on South African authorities, particularly the Department of Home Affairs, to investigate how Kgafela Kgafela allegedly obtained South African identification documents, in what they describe as a serious violation of immigration laws. “It is unacceptable that a fugitive from justice can manipulate legal systems to further his personal agenda. We demand a full investigation into how Kgafela Kgafela gained access to South African legal documents, and we call for his immediate deportation,” the statement read.

The Royal Family accused Kgafela Kgafela of “spewing vitriol” against both the South African government and the traditional leadership in Moruleng while using South African territory as a base to advance what they describe as “nonsensical extraterritorial claims.” They argue that his actions not only destabilized the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela community but also posed a broader threat to South Africa’s legal and constitutional integrity.

Community Under Siege. 

The leadership dispute has had far-reaching consequences for the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela in Moruleng, with the Royal Family alleging that the previous provincial administrations “unleashed state security forces on the community to enforce Kgafela Kgafela’s unlawful claims.” According to the Royal Family, this led to violent confrontations and social unrest, leaving the community in a prolonged state of instability.

“Instead of defending the rights of the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela, the previous leaders chose to collaborate with a known fugitive, plunging our community into lawlessness and hardship,” Pilane stated.

Restoring Sovereignty and Moving Forward. 

With Kgosi Nyalala Pilane now reinstated, the Royal Family is focusing on restoring peace, unity, and development within the community. They have called on all Bakgatla Ba Kgafela across the 32 villages to rally behind Kgosi Nyalala and work collectively to rebuild the community's social and economic foundations.

“The damage caused by these unlawful actions is profound, but with unity and resilience, we can restore what was lost. It is time to focus on development, addressing poverty, inequality, and unemployment, and healing the divisions that have plagued our people,” said Pilane.

The Royal Family reaffirmed their commitment to the principles enshrined in the Constitution of South Africa and the North West Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act of 2005. They emphasized that the decision to reinstate Kgosi Nyalala Pilane restores the rightful authority of the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela in Moruleng, independent of any external influences.

Consultative Sessions and the Way Forward. 

In the coming weeks, the Royal Family will engage in a series of consultative sessions with community members and stakeholders to discuss the implications of Kgosi Nyalala Pilane’s reinstatement and outline a roadmap for future development.

“We must act as if we answer only to our ancestors, our children, and the unborn. We dare not falter,” Pilane concluded, quoting revolutionary leader Amilcar Cabral.