A closer look into the Bafokeng villages, ‘Atamelang’
Back in the early nineteen hundreds [1900s], the then king of the Royal Bafokeng Nation known as Kgosi (King) Mokgatle and his advisors decided on a consumer boycott against local Indian business man because of a quarrels regarding live stock.
The boycott went on for days, weeks and months… it was then discovered that the king’s wife had bought goods from the same store that the nation agreed upon that they are not going to buy from. The king’s advisors and closest tribal men went to the king with concerns and complaints regarding the boycott and what his wife has portrayed.
Kgosi Mokgatle stood by his wife’s side and justified that when the nation decided on the boycott his wife wasn’t present hence she had bought from the shop.
The king sent the old men and their families packing, and the old men left as they also felt they cannot live with a king that doesn’t honour his word and doesn’t want to admit his wrong doing in the matter. The tribal men took all their belongs, including women, children, and live stock to go settle near the Botswana border in a small village called Dwaarsberg, approximately 140km from Rustenburg.
A case against the Bafokeng King was then opened in Rustenburg and was represented by Advocate Malan at Rustenburg regional court. The regional court ruled against them, they took the matter further by means of an appeal to the high court in Pretoria, and they were still not satisfied with the ruling. Moreover, other appealed was made at the Supreme Court in Bloemfontein, this time, the case was against the minister of native affairs to question the powers of the king over his people i.e. if the king can actually dismiss people out of his kingdom or if he just implement a banish against them? The Supreme Court ruled in the king’s and native affairs ministers’ favour, thus a nation was then divided.
Nevertheless, after the trial, Kgosi Mokgatle went to Dwaarsberg to ask his community to come back to Phokeng as all issues were now sorted. Some of the people went back to Phokeng and some settled near Phokeng in a village called Chaneng, hence the existence of a section called Atamelang (which means ‘come nearer’ to our royalty).
Today, over 10 villages live with harmony with Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi, who is the 36th king of the Bafokeng king’s lineage.
The Bafokeng community has benefited from it’s royalty’s legacy in such a way that it’s key strategic initiatives including education, food security, and sustainable urban planning has improved. In 1999, the Bafokeng won a case against Impala Platinum and so they ensured their future.
Article: Tshireletso Malapile