Kgosi Nchaupe III Makapan was coronated to be the chief of the Bakgatla ba Mosetlha on Saturday. Photo by Raymond Morare
FINALLY, the Bakgatla ba Mosetlha Royal Family has a chief.
Kgosi Nchaupe III Makapan was coronated at Bakgatla ba Mosetlha Traditional Council in Makapanstad, North West on Saturday, 8 July.
This was despite the Bakgatla Ba Mosetlha Communal Forum saying they want the coronation stopped. It is alleged that Kgosi Nchaupe III was supposed to be crowned in 2015, but he had to attend compulsory traditional rituals before he could do so.
Kgosi Nchaupe III Makapan was coronated to be the chief of the Bakgatla ba Mosetlha on Saturday. Photo by Raymond Morare
Kgosi Nchaupe III Makapan was coronated to be the chief of the Bakgatla ba Mosetlha on Saturday. Photo by Raymond Morare
Kgosi Nchaupe III Makapan was coronated to be the chief of the Bakgatla ba Mosetlha on Saturday. Photo by Raymond Morare
Family member and former actor of Generations and 7de Laan, Rantebeng Makapan, was part of the coronation on Kgosi Nchaupe III Makapan, in Makapanstad, North West. Photo by Raymond Morare
Family member and former actor of Generations and 7de Laan, Rantebeng Makapan, was part of the coronation on Kgosi Nchaupe III Makapan, in Makapanstad, North West. Photo by Raymond Morare
Family member and former actor of Generations and 7de Laan, Rantebeng Makapan, was part of the coronation on Kgosi Nchaupe III Makapan, in Makapanstad, North West. Photo by Raymond Morare
Troops, traditional music groups and communities from all walks of life came to celebrate the coronation event Kgosi Nchaupe III Makapan in Makapanstad, North West. Photo by Raymond Morare
Troops, traditional music groups and communities from all walks of life came to celebrate the coronation event Kgosi Nchaupe III Makapan in Makapanstad, North West. Photo by Raymond Morare
Carl Niehaus was among the dignitries who came to celebrate the coronation event Kgosi Nchaupe III Makapan in Makapanstad, North West. Photo by Raymond Morare
Troops, Traditional music groups and communities from all walks of life came to celebrate the coronation event Kgosi Nchaupe III Makapan in Makapanstad, North West. Photo by Raymond Morare
Troops, Traditional music groups and communities from all walks of life came to celebrate the coronation event Kgosi Nchaupe III Makapan in Makapanstad, North West. Photo by Raymond Morare
Troops, traditional music groups and communities from all walks of life came to celebrate the coronation event Kgosi Nchaupe III Makapan in Makapanstad, North West. Photo by Raymond Morare
Troops, Traditional music groups and communities from all walks of life came to celebrate the coronation event Kgosi Nchaupe III Makapan in Makapanstad, North West. Photo by Raymond Morare
Troops, traditional music groups and communities from all walks of life came to celebrate the coronation event Kgosi Nchaupe III Makapan in Makapanstad, North West. Photo by Raymond Morare
Troops, traditional music groups and communities from all walks of life came to celebrate the coronation event Kgosi Nchaupe III Makapan in Makapanstad, North West. Photo by Raymond Morare
Troops, traditional music groups and communities from all walks of life came to celebrate the coronation event Kgosi Nchaupe III Makapan in Makapanstad, North West. Photo by Raymond Morare
Various people, including dignitaries from government and traditional chiefs from various areas, came to celebrate the beautiful day, while traditional dancers danced for their chief.
Speaking to Daily Sun, Chief Nchaupe III said he was over the moon and had no words to explain the feeling.
"My promise to the people is that we will develop ourselves and make things work out for us," he said. Furthermore, he said they had to tackle the issue of unemployment.
"We have a large piece of land. We have to address it by starting to farm. We have Apies River which never dries up and we will source water and start irrigation," he said. Kgosi Nchaupe III said the land they had should be used to improve the lives of the people.
ALSO READ: Forum says NO to Kgosi’s coronation!
North West acting premier Saliva Molapisi, who is also the MEC of Public Works, said the event was important not only to government but to the community as well.
"We are here as government to observe the processes that the traditional leadership went through by affirming and recognising the appointment of Chief Nchaupe III. As government, we are here to recognise the chief himself by awarding him the certificate of recognition," he said.
He said although water is not within their jurisdiction as a department, he confirmed that there was serious intervention across the province to tackle the water crisis.
Our people are facing scarcity of water. Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu is hard at work to resolve and attend to the issues of water.
Deputy Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Zolile Burns-Ncamashe, said the institution of traditional leadership is recognised in terms of the Constitution. He said section 211 gives recognition and section 212 provides the framework for the role of traditional leaders.
"When giving traditional leadership roles, it goes without saying that those roles have to be exercised through provision of resources. As government we have a process and programme that we are following to ensure that we provide tools of trade so that they will be able to execute their constitutional function in a manner that is adequate and efficient," he said.
The deputy minister also said that the ANC-led government is committed to meeting all the obligations as they are guaranteed in the Constitution of South Africa, including provision of clean water, electricity and roads.
Some of the community members who attended the ceremony were happy that their chief was coronated and will work with them in tackling different issues that affect them.
Elizabeth Malatji (62) said: "We have been waiting for this moment. We love our chief and hope that our problems will be solved now."
