MAHIKENG – 29 January 2026
The North West Provincial Government has formally recognised Nyalala Pilane as chief of the Bakgatla ba Kgafela, despite longstanding allegations of large-scale misappropriation of tribal trust funds.

The decision, announced on 27 January, has sparked outrage among members of the Bakgatla community, who accuse Pilane of presiding over the diversion of communal wealth worth hundreds of millions of rand.

Discovery records presented in litigation reveal that tribal funds equivalent to USD 99.8 million and R72.2 million were ring-fenced under statutory trust conditions for the exclusive benefit of the Bakgatla ba Kgafela Tribe.

Legal instructions issued to attorneys Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr required the funds to be invested under Section 78(2A) of the Attorneys Act, with all capital and interest returned to the community.

However, evidence suggests these safeguards were breached, exposing the funds to alleged graft, fraud, theft, and corruption. No transparent accounting has been produced to show that the money was returned to the tribe in compliance with trust instructions.

The recognition of Pilane follows the review and setting aside of the findings of a commission of inquiry into the Bakgatla chieftaincy, initially led by Judge Maluleke and later by Judge Baloyi.

The reversal has reignited public debate about the effectiveness of commissions of inquiry, with critics questioning their value if recommendations can be overturned by courts.

Community leaders argue that the reinstatement of Pilane undermines the legitimacy of traditional leadership, pointing instead to Paramount Chief Kgafela Kgafela, who holds hereditary royal authority.

The Bakgatla ba Kgafela community is demanding urgent intervention from law enforcement agencies, including the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority, to investigate alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, contraventions of the Attorneys Act, and possible money laundering.

Calls have been made for criminal dockets to be opened, assets to be frozen, and prosecutions to be pursued without fear or favour.

Kgosikgolo Kgafela’s Spokesperson, Kgosana Lebogang Phalafala Maname, says the case represents a critical test of South Africa’s justice system and its ability to protect communal wealth from corruption and political interference.

(C) TPA2026