Overjoyed new Bapedi king: ‘I am now where I am supposed to be’

King Thulare Victor Thulare III, who was last month officially recognised as the rightful leader of the Bapedi by government, on Friday received his long awaited recognition certificate.

The handover ceremony was held in Waterkloof, Pretoria, where Thulare III signed the certificate.

The legitimising of Thulare followed a Constitutional Court judgment on March 4 that ended a legal battle which has ragged for more than 40 years.

On March 25, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the legal document officially recognising Thulare as the rightful king of the Bapedi tribe under section 9 (2)(a) and (b) of the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act.

Part of the act reads: ‘‘The president must, on the recommendation of the minister and subject to subsection 3, recognise a person so identified in terms of paragraph (a)(i) as king or queen.”

Said the new king on Friday: “This is what we call jubilation. We are overjoyed. I am saying this on behalf of the Bapedi nation who are now waiting for us at home. Although this was a long and tedious journey, it was worth it, but the most important thing right now is forgiveness.”

The king’s words come at the back of a long legal and royal brawl for the Bapedi kingship between Thulare and his uncle, the then acting king Kgagudi Kenneth Sekhukhune.

Sekhukhune assumed the acting role in 1976 after Thulare’s father, Rhyne Thulare, did not inherit the throne due to family conflicts. The legal battles started in 1988. Rhyne Thulare died in 2007 while the matter was continuing in court.

Said the new king: “I am now where I am supposed to be.”

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Deputy Minister Obed Bapela, who hand over the signed certificate to the new king, said: “It is a proud moment for the Bapedi nation as I myself am part of that nation.”

Bapela encouraged the new king to join the fight against the novel Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.

“As a country we are facing difficult times during this Covid-19 pandemic and as the king you should use your new found power to help government to enforce the Covid-19 regulations,” Bapela said.

Kgoshi Mmathabeng Maila echoed Thulare’s sentiments: “This day was a long time coming. We are thankful that we have received this certificate and everyone must celebrate the rebirth of the Bapedi nation. The rightful heir is finally taking his rightful place.

“It has been a long journey. We have travelled through the wilderness but finally we are here and there is no going back,” said Maila.

	Palesa Dlamini Journalist City Press p: +27 11 713 9609 w: www.citypress.co.za  e: palesa.dlamini@citypress.co.za
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