MAHIKENG MAIL – MAHIKENG: The long wait came to an end last week when North West Premier, Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi, officially handed over the certificate of recognition to Kgosi Nyalala Pilane of the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela at a ceremony held at Mphebatho Museum in Moruleng village.
The Premier, who was accompanied by MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Gaoage Oageng Molapisi, took the opportunity to present Kgosi Nyalala Pilane with the certificate, pursuant to the court ruling which set aside the Baloyi Commission Report into the chieftaincy and succession disputes of Bakgatla ba Kgafela. The Baloyi Commission report was instituted in 2019 following reports of financial mismanagement, corruption and abuse of power within the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela (BBK) traditional council. The commission found that Kgosi Nyalala Pilane by-passed traditional structures to misappropriate billions in mining royalties and assets, which led to the withdrawal of the certificate of recognition.
Speaking at the celebratory ceremony, Premier Mokgosi said the 7th administration was there to hand over the official certificate to welcome Kgosi Ngalala Pilane.
“The seventh administration will remember that there was something called the Baloyi Commission, which focused on observing the Bakgatla with findings that recommended that Kgosi Pilane’s certificate be withdrawn. This was taken to court, reaching a finding that the ruling must be set aside.
“As government, we agreed with the court and gave the royal family space to give us a name, which they did. Government is not the ones deciding who should be chief,” explained Mokgosi.
