*
Who Runs Royal Bafokeng Nation?*
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**/A Traditional System versus People's Power///
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**
*Eric Mokuoa and Joe Di Josa *
In the community so rich with material resources and yet a majority
linger in adverse poverty. Social disparity is ashamedly an orchestrated
reality. The school of thought suggesting that distribution of resources
is favorably in the interest of elites is not farfetched. It argues that
sole logic of allowing these vast inequalities is to perpetuate the
social imbalances within the society.
Now if this argument is something to go by, the question arises: who are
the ultimate decision makers?
This question has solicited what we arguably perceived as the weakest
response. Kgotha-Kgothe, Makgotla, Traditional Council and supreme
council rest with decision making powers within this community. In an
elitist monarch of Royal Bafokeng caliber, it is relatively
inconceivable if not unimaginable. However, to our dismay, it has
convinced the public and those foreign to the real experience of this
institution. As a result there are the anti and the pros. The two
antagonists do not share in interpretations of ideas of Bafokeng monarchy.
Be as it may, why are these institutions in place, especially
Kgotha-kgothe? Traditionally, this gathering has been the highest
decision making body comprising of all Bafokeng makgotla. It has never
united the two in opposition. Those who enjoyed the outcomes either
benefited or have access to those who benefit in the system.
Similarly Kgotha-Kgothe has continued as a platform where the ambitions
of the few rich and powerful are endorsed through unjustifiable voting
procedures. The procedure lacks credibility as it is a window-dressing
process. It does not differentiate a responsible adult to a minor. It
can hardly represent democracy, as is a classroom of hand tossing
exercise.A point can be witnessed when the poor are provided with an
ambience of gazebo displaying great propaganda and literary works of the
system peddlers. This is a mass therapeutic session. It is opium to the
masses. They are kept high in brighter hopes, whilst their poverty is
deepening to unacceptable levels. Each session, sustain hopes of the
people and in between an illusory period, a period of trance- the masses
believing the unbelievable.
A better world is shaped through the pictures of the imported master
plan ("Plan 2035"), and drugs the masses to a point of incognito. The
reality is obliterated by all this developments on glossy papers which
are imposed and mean little to the masses. Linked to this development
are the interests of greedy elites, who define our community in material
terms. They sing a mantra "/Richest Tribe" "Richest Tribe"/ as they
hypnotize men and women religiously making them to believe their
benefits on this resource is here. They thrive in this flawed system,
thinking heavily from their stomach. The objective is to sustain the
uncontrollable opulent life style. They are blood suckers of the society.
We have seen how Kgotha-Kgothe is a dangerous space; allowing many to
escape from their reality. This decision making bodies are without any
power, as they exist to perpetuate inequalities of relations.This is a
social relationship which sustains social disparity. This is a
relationship which can be defined as that of a slave master and slaves.
It has normalized, and made inequalities in this society acceptable.
This unhealthy and skewed relation demonizes and exiles all descending
voice. In the past, the critical voices were co-opted and induced, to
render society dead. Presently the genuine voices are polarized,
corruption and conflict of interests is nakedly paraded.
Our assertion is that systems are meant to justly serve the people. A
friend of people, irrespective of their social standing both poor and
rich alike, it enjoys massive support of the people. However, in the
contrary systems lacks a genuine will to advance the will of the people.
Instead we agree with Karl Marx that systems perpetuate class domination
and antagonism. The rich will hardly have healthy relationships with the
poor. If the poor are the subject of the rich Royals, the rich will
labor to stabilize their present condition, at the expense of poor people.
Arguing that the Bafokeng community is heavily elitist is not criminal
or disrespectful; it gives more reasonable sense than making deceiving
slogans of" Kgotha-Kgothe as a decision maker".The elite group within
Bafokeng have unlimited access to the Royals and therefore sit with
immense influence. These elites either hail from strong elitist society
or are co-opted, for they gave in to these detrimental principles. That
the society must be corporatized, believing that it is not disturbing to
concentrate wealth in the hands of few.The importance of the master take
prominence and neglect of the poor masses is inevitable, corporates
serve- capital. Like a platoon of fighters the poor masses are fed with
slogans to emotionally internalize these hopes. They continuously live
under fear for their bread line cut, critical views amount to
disrespect. The injustices imposed on us through security terrors, goes
unquestioned. Living in fear and terror are source of liberation. Behind
elitism within Bafokeng there are high ranking names. These are people
who are likely to make and shapes decisions regardless of anyone's
presence in Kgotha-Kgothe.
*_Decision Makers_*
*__*
*/Mr. Stephen Phiri/***is**the CEO: Royal Bafokeng Platinum;
Non-Executive Director: Impala Platinum (Implats); Chief Executive
Officer: SA Chrome & Alloys, Johannesburg; Non-Executive Director: Royal
Bafokeng Resources Holdings (Pty) Ltd, Johannesburg; Non-Executive
Director: Royal Bafokeng Economic Development Board, Phokeng, NW. He
enjoys greater influence, he reserve unlimited access to the king and to
some extend the whole royal family. Recall, he lead the
anti-nationilisation campaign he is quoted in money web (08 May 2011)
saying "We really do not think that things that are being advocated by
some quarters in the country, like nationalization, will happen. We do
not think that South Africa can shoot itself in the foot and adopt a
policy as destructive as nationalization, when it failed allover". He is
the high ranking official in the Bafokeng community, holding positions
in numerous boards, with the Bafokeng entities.
*/Mr. Naill Carroll/*The Chief Executive Officer: Royal Bafokeng
Holdings -He has been attacked from all corners of the Bafokeng
community. He has earned the respect of the King through experience and
reported success.However, within the larger community of Bafokeng he is
perceived as an enemy, a dismal failure. The Business, fraternity in
Bafokeng community have marched and called for his removal. He is viewed
as an elite who have no interest for the community, but sees the king as
the shareholder to please. He enjoys unlimited access to the king and
the royals. However, he has unquestionable profile and experience within
the arena of his profession.
*//*
*/Mr. Adolf Zietsman/* he is Royal Bafokeng Administration (RBA) Head of
Reaction Force - He has worked in security for many years in the
Bafokeng Community. He has established a strong relationship with South
African Police Service, within Rustenburg. He has been at the helm of
Bafokeng private security. Some sectors of the society have dismissed
him as former un- repented apartheid operative. He also enjoys unlimited
access to the king and royals. He receives audience with other
subordinate elites.
*/Ms. Susan E. Cook/* she is Head of Research and Planning Unit -She is
a highly skilled American Anthropologist, who leads Bafokeng community
into being corporatized and adjusts to modern market demands. She has
restructured the office of Kgosi, put in red tapes. She wields
tremendous influence and enjoys unlimited access of the king and Royal
family. Some sectors of society perceive her as the agent to reconstruct
history within the Bafokeng society. She is instrumental in
documentation of some historic material both personally and for the
system. As a strategic propeller, she has contributed numerous topical
papers, amongst others arguing pro- Bafokeng and its future, like "the
Business of Being Bafokeng: the Corporatization of a Tribal Authority in
South Africa ". This and other literacy works she has produced on
traditional systems and Bafokeng administration, confirms that
wide-awake Bafokeng community are on point in believing that her mission
is to change the hereditary and cultural systems of "indigenous Bafokeng" .
*/Mr. Ian McLachlan/* is a CEO of Royal Bafokeng Institute (RBI)-He is
the king's trusted, in pushing for excellence in the Bafokeng community.
He also enjoys access to the King and the royal family. He is not so
well known within the Royal Bafokeng community. However his influence
cannot go un-noticed. He is operating a Lebone Independent (model c
school) which is designed to ascertain the middle class and elites to be
the powerful and best educated with all facilities and resources
deployed to in their interest. The school's fees for grade R -- 3 range
from R2062 per month which is a take home for many domestic workers. To
rub the point home a grade 11 will pay R3093 and a grade 12 settling
R3208 respectively- leaving close to 90% of workers out of better
education.
McLachlan is a class society bridge and strategically positioned to
ensure the rich remain rich and the poor remain poor, through the
education they are provided.
*_Is there hope for the better_?*
The above elites are not put in any form of order. Vehemently behind the
Kgotha-Kgothe there is this force. Surprisingly, gender and racial
demographics are an interesting factor. The influence wield by this
inner core, is an indictment on professional capacity build over years
by Bafokeng society.
Given the fact that Mr. Stephen Phiri is totally removed from the
community, the community's interest is totally compromised. If this core
is the controlling elite then our society is at the brink of losing its
identity. The real contradictions of what the Bafokeng society is. The
society rendered inferior, by the curse of riches.
Talking superiority and inferiority the four below might have fallen
victims and living casualties in the battle for dominance. Though they
are comfortably placed, they clearly appear as subordinate to the inner
core. They try hard as front troopers to defend the system, but remain
oblivious to realise their sacrificial lambs' role at this unholy altar.
They constantly found themselves at odds with the community.Their access
and influence to the king and royals is hard to locate, perhaps
non-existent.
*_Subordinates to Decisions_*
*__*
*/Mr. George Shimane Khunou/ *is a**Managing Director of Frazer
Alexander-He resigned under a huge pressure as MD of Royal Bafokeng
Sports in 2011. He was highly influential in the tenure of Kgosi
Mollwane Molotlegi.This reign has seen him become the most popular RBA
Official in Bafokeng community. The advent of Kgosi Leruo, destabilised
his standing and influence to the king. Regardless of his gigantic
profile, he suffered a serious blow under kgosi Leruo as a result; he is
ignored and reduced to a commoner.
*/Mr. Thabo Mokgatlha/* is a Former Finance Executive of Royal Bafokeng
Administration currently Managing Director (MD) of Royal Bafokeng
Economic Development -He joined the board on Implats as a nominee of the
Royal Bafokeng Nation. He has not been a popular figure; his rise to
various influential positions earned him some level of respect from the
king. He remains subordinate to the rest, but his recent role as head of
the economic development wing of Bafokeng makes him the non-charlatan
dog as he can influence on procurement opportunities.
*/Mr. Bruno Seabelo/ *is a Legal Affairs Head-Mr Seabelo, has worked
years in the Royal Bafokeng Administration.Speculations are that Mr.
Phiri is senior and has immense legal experience; he cannot share an
altar with him. He is viewed by society as gate keeper of protests. His
influence is unclear but he is seen by many Bafokeng activists as a man
in the right hand of Kgosi Leruo however his human rights knowledge is
questionable.
*/Adv. Kenny Mokate/ *is a Head of RBA Land unit-Once a friend to the
communities, and adversary to the system, now turned all this around. He
took over as Kgosana. He is highly trained and poses huge potential to
rise through elitist ranks. In serving the will of the (Kgosi Leruo),
Mr. Mokate's main task is to ensure land administration and community
initiatives like tuck-shops, backrooms even a quad bike fundraising ride
is crushed to its owners or beneficiaries disbelieve. The Advocate used
the struggle as stepping stone to the palace.He used to share the name
"comrade" with struggling destitute, of late he is of service to the
system. He has reappeared in the same battle this time donned in
different colours and a convert. His influence is non-existence, he
remain a pawn in the play, a sign of betrayal to those who formally
shared views with him.
After traversing with us, in an attempted to avoid illusions and dreams,
which are far from reach. We can only give a lifesaving thought. The
future of the next generation is incumbent on the present- so is the
future of our society no external messiah will genuinely save it.
Decision making does not exist in vacuum. The course to corporatize the
Bafokeng community is among the determining factor. This grand alien
theory which we are not capacitated to make plausible argument on,
defines the community in material terms. It weighs more, for its
sellable it's a commodity, with a huge price tag. Perhaps, its
consequences are felt or are yet to be seen. The communal tradition
which should be cherished does not find its expression. Kgotha-Kgothe is
been devalued. The excruciating pain of been exiled at home, questions
the quality of skills, we so invested in. One hope is not construed to
be so inferior to deserve being tamed to silence. In the absence of
critical voices we are obediently signing a blank cheque en route to
Kgotha-Kgothe.
Evidently many have stayed away from Kgotha-Kgothe and many are
continuing to stay away.We hope this give legitimate reason not to form
part of non-decision making meeting camouflaged as the grand democratic
demonstration in the land. Ralph Nader once said: "The function of
leadership is to produce more leadership, not more followers". Whether
is it the case in Bafokeng or not, it remain contested.
* /Eric Mokuoa and Joe Di Josa are social justice activists from
within the Royal Bafokeng community. They write this based on their
experience and observations with Bafokeng Community./
*Contact: Eric Mokuoa
Cell: 083 371 2947 *
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