According to the Baroka-ba-gaNkwana in Sekhukhune, a group of heavily armed individuals, alleged to be Mavis Tlakale’s cohorts, invaded and vandalised the royal house. It is alleged that they also hurled insults at Queen Mother Manyaku Phasha and wreaked havoc.
The family alleges that the root cause of this incident lies in a two-decade-long battle for the throne and the disputed proceeds from the sale of the Bokoni Platinum Mine.
It is alleged that Mavis Tlakale, the estranged wife of the late chief, had previously attacked Kgoshi Nkwane Phasha, leading to fatal internal injuries and his untimely demise in 2003.
“A case of malicious damage to property has been opened, and we hope that the SAPS will act swiftly to arrest the identified individuals involved in this act of cowardice. We call upon the community to maintain maximum discipline and give the SAPS the necessary space to prove themselves without interference,” stated Tshepo, the spokesperson for the royal family.
Baroka-ba-gaNkwana further alleged that Tlakale sought to have her illegitimate child ascend to their father’s throne. The family claims to have exposed this through DNA sampling, expressing confidence that the only child, proven to be the biological son of the late Kgoshi Nkwane Phasha, will be rightfully recognised as the Senior Traditional Leader.
In response to the escalating violence, the Queen Mother and her legitimate son have been relocated to a place of safety.
DNA RESULTS UNREAVEL CHIEFTANCY DISPUTE
The longstanding dispute over chieftaincy within the Baroka-ba-gaNkwana tribe in Sekhukhune, Limpopo, has taken a dramatic turn following the release of DNA results.
The conflict emerged in the wake of Nkwana Aubrey Phasha’s tragic demise in a car accident back in 2003, leaving a leadership vacuum in its wake.
In June, the executive council of the Limpopo government appointed Tlakale Mavis Phasha, the estranged wife of the late chief, as the acting regent. This decision was made on the grounds that their son, Potlake, was deemed too young to assume the tribal throne.
Contesting this choice, an opposing faction sought legal recourse by petitioning for the exhumation of Nkwana Aubrey Phasha’s remains. The objective was to conduct DNA tests, comparing the paternity of Potlake and Tshepo, the late chief’s other son.
The much-anticipated DNA results were unveiled on August 31, revealing a negative match for Potlake and a positive confirmation for Tshepo.
Steve Phasha, spokesperson for the faction opposing the acting regent, asserted that the results unequivocally vindicated their position, confirming that Potlake was not the biological son of the late chief.
“Now that the results have been released, it is clear that Tshepo, and no one else, should be appointed chief,” Phasha stated.
However, Segopane Seroka, spokesperson for the acting regent, countered this stance, emphasizing that only the royal council possessed the authority to determine the rightful heir to the chieftaincy.
“We do not recognize Tshepo because the late chief was not married to his mother. The late chief actually disowned Tshepo when he was still alive,” Seroka declared.
The revelation of the DNA results has intensified the already complex chieftaincy dispute, raising questions about the role of lineage, legal procedures, and the autonomy of the royal council in resolving tribal leadership conflicts.