Bapo-Ba-Mogale chieftaincy dispute interrupts Ramaphosa's ANC voter registration campaign - Inside Politics
By Lebone Rodah Mosima ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa’s voter registration campaign in Madibeng Local Municipality, located in the Northwest town of Brits, was briefly disrupted on Saturday after some members of the Bapo-Ba-Mogale Royal Family objected to his visit to the royal palace, citing a long-running chieftaincy dispute. According to his party, Ramaphosa was on […]
’s voter registration campaign in Madibeng Local Municipality, located in the Northwest town of Brits, was briefly disrupted on Saturday after some members of the Bapo-Ba-Mogale Royal Family objected to his visit to the royal palace, citing a long-running chieftaincy dispute. According to his party, Ramaphosa was on a courtesy visit to the Bapo-Ba-Mogale Royal Palace as part of the ANC’s practice of engaging traditional and religious leaders before community campaign activities ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections. The visit was interrupted when Princess Itumeleng Moerane denied Ramaphosa and his delegation entry, demanding government intervention in a traditional leadership dispute that has remained unresolved since 2016. The standoff was later resolved after Moerane was escorted away, allowing Ramaphosa to enter the palace. Ramaphosa then held a private meeting of about 20 to 30 minutes with members of the royal family to discuss the matter. Following the meeting, Moerane apologised publicly to Ramaphosa and explained that her actions were driven by frustration over what she described as years of government inaction. “The problem that we have is the lack of the government wanting to resolve this issue. They’ve subjected us over the past 12 years to three commissions, but the reports have never been released,” she said. “We are generally peace-loving, and I am not a confrontational person. But after being taken from pillar to post for so long, and every time they come here promising to resolve this matter only to fail, one is forced to act outside of their nature. ”Moerane said the dispute centres on the recognition of the rightful traditional leader, arguing that the Bapo-ba-Mogale community has neither a recognised Kgosi nor a functioning traditional council. “You can go anywhere in the community and you will hear that nobody ever sees these people that the government has brought here today to say, ‘Here is our King or Chief,'” she said. She accused the provincial government of failing to release commission reports and appoint a legitimate traditional leader, leaving governance in the community at a standstill. Moerane further alleged that political interests linked to the area’s mineral wealth were delaying the resolution of the dispute. “They refuse to let government just parachute somebody that is not the incumbent to run the resources,” she said. “This government wants to install its own puppets so that it can have access to this community’s resources. We have vast chrome and platinum deposits here, which is the real issue stopping the government from having the political will to resolve this matter. ”She also cited poor service delivery, including inadequate access to electricity and water, illegal mining and deteriorating living conditions as challenges facing the community. However, Bapo-Ba-Mogale Royal House spokesperson Vladimir Mogale disputed Moerane’s claims, insisting that the community has a recognised Kgosi and that due process has been followed. “We’ve had the late Judge Maluleke conduct a commission on our chieftaincy dispute, and there is a report on that,” Mogale said. “Last September, we inaugurated the Kgosi after he received his certificates. The Premier has all these records, and we have agreed to meet again so that the Premier can share those records and confirm who the legitimate chief is. ”Mogale rejected allegations that the recognised traditional leader had been installed to facilitate access to the community’s mineral resources. “There is a functioning governance structure. We have a royal council, the royal family and the Office of the Kgosi. We are working and doing our best,” he said. “I believe there are issues, but we continue trying to resolve them. Some of these matters were raised with the President today. ”On concerns over mining benefits and local development, Mogale said the royal house continues to engage mining companies through Social and Labour Plans (SLPs), corporate social investment programmes and regulatory processes overseen by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. “The only thing we can do is continue to push them in that regard. At the same time, we are trying to grow and develop our own businesses in mining and agriculture so that the community does not have to rely on outside companies,” he said. The incident briefly delayed Ramaphosa’s programme but concluded with the President proceeding with his engagements as part of the ANC’s final voter registration campaign ahead of the local government elections. Political parties across the country urged eligible South Africans to visit their nearest voter registration this weekend for the Electoral Commission’s (IEC) final voter registration weekend. INSIDE POLITICS