BAKGATLA Ba Mosetlha Communal Forum is not happy with the coronation of Chief Nchaupe Makapan III, which will be held on Saturday, 8 July at Mosate Section in Makapanstad, North West.
Forum's deputy chairman, Biggy Mthandaba, said they want the coronation stopped as the whole process awaits the formalisation of the traditional community and traditional leadership, which is a white paper request.
He said the government white paper on traditional community and traditional leadership should be formalised first through Act 41 of 2003, supported by Act no 2 of 2005 with amendment Act 3 of 2019, respectfully.
"Our community has mandated the communal forum to formalise all these processes and the application has already been done and circulated to the following stakeholders, which are national House of Traditional Leaders, Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, as well as the North West premier," he said.
Mthandaba said the chief has no certificate of recognition, so the whole tribal leadership is illegal and the community was not consulted about the coronation and other issues in the area.
Mthandaba said the community is not allowed to run a small business in their yards and if one is found, there is a R500 fine, which is collected by anyone from the tribal council.
The forum also accuses the chief for selling land without their consent. "Our chief is against development in the area and as such his laws chase away investors. He refuses for a police station and correctional services to be built in the area, even though all the paperwork has been done with recommendations from government," he said.
He said the Moretele Office Park, which is now a multi-purpose centre, is constantly closed because the chief wants money from them.
Mthandaba said they are also annoyed by the issue that if a foreign national impregnates a local woman, the man pays a R20 000 penalty to the tribal office.
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"We are concerned about that. We don't have malls and community development in our area. We want government to invest in the area and to partner with the community. We want a chief who will work and be transparent, and not be biased in building our community," he said.
But the forum said they were against inciting violence and any other demonstrations that could prevent the coronation.
Traditional council member, Lencoe Makapan, said: "We are aware of their grievances which they have been complaining about for the past eight years."
But Lencoe chose not to comment further on the other allegations.
