Royal house: MEC’s statement an insult to badimo

THE Bakgolokoe Royal Kingdom in Harrismith has slammed Free State Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Ketso Makume.

This after his recent statement when he set the record straight that the provincial government only recognised five traditional houses in the Free State.

Makume said the provincial government recognised Bakoena ba Mopeli, Batlokoa ba Mota, Barolong ba Seleke, Makholokoe and Batlokoa ba Makgalong.

"The province has only five recognised traditional communities namely Bakoena ba Mopeli under principal traditional leader, Moremoholo Mopeli, Batlokwa ba Mota under principal traditional leader, Montoeli Mota, Barolong ba Seleke under Kgosi Gaboilelwe Moroka, Makholokoe led by Morena Paulus Moloi and Batlokwa ba Mokgalong under Kgosi Nkgahle Tsotetsi," said Makume.

"Therefore, any other traditional community or communities or persons other than the ones I mentioned are not recognised by the Free State provincial government and thus, in contravention of Section 7(9) of the Traditional and Khoi-San Act 2017. Any person who is not a recognised leader as contemplated in subsection (1) but purports to be such a leader, is guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to a fine or imprisonment not exceeding three years."

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Makume was responding to overwhelming media questions on the alleged discrimination of other kingdoms and several individuals who called themselves kings and demanded benefits from Cogta.

He said the provincial government is invested in building two palaces this financial year and focusing on revitalisation of roads within the boundaries of kingdoms.

Bakgolokoe royal kingdom spokesman Thabo Moloi questioned the criteria used by the provincial government to give recognition to the five houses.

"We're not a disgruntled kingdom. We're not a self-proclaimed kingdom. We're the owners of the land. The history is everywhere for the MEC to access. We demand he makes a public apology. He knows nothing about royal kingdoms. That statement is an insult to the ancestors. The MEC has opened a can of worms," he said.