INTERVENTION AND RESISTANCE: THE BATAU OF MPHANAMA, LIMPOPO PROVINCE AND EXTERNAL GOVERNANCE by NAMANETONA JOEL SHAI Submitted in accordance with the requirements For the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in the subject ANTHROPOLOGY at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: PROF C.J VAN VUUREN FEBRUARY 2016 Student number: 46505156 I declare that INTERVENTION AND RESISTANCE: THE BATAU OF MPHANAMA, LIMPOPO PROVINCE AND EXTERNAL INTERVENTION is my work and that all the sources I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. ______________________ _______________ SIGNATURE DATE (MR N J SHAI) i ABSTRACT The Batau of Kgaphola are of Swazi origin and migrated to Sekhukhuneland Limpopo Province in South Africa. The community has been involved in chieftainship disputes which date back to 1954 after the death of Chief Lobang III. Within the broader national political framework and execution of policies, the community became divided between the Makhuduthamaga and the Rangers. The Makhuduthamaga were anti-government and the Rangers pro-government. Each of the two groups gained the support of community members. The failure of the royal family to agree on who should lead the community after the death of Chief Lobang III led to a division from within. The former Lebowa government and the current Limpopo government intervened into the Batau chieftainship disputes without success. Commissions such as the Lekoloane, Ralushai and Nhlapo were established to deal with chieftainship disputes but this did not assist communities including the Batau of Kgaphola. The Kgatla Commission was also established and communities are still appearing before it and the Batau are still waiting to present their case. The study explores how the Batau of Mphanama dealt with their differences relating to chieftainship within the community and this instituted external intervention. It also uncovers how disputes within the royal family have affected members of the community and led to divisions. In the final instance the effect of decades of external political intervention and governance is evaluated. Keywords Batau community, Sebatakgomo, Rangers, Lebowa, Limpopo Province, Chieftainship disputes, Bakgoma and Bakgomana (senior nobles and junior nobles), Candle wife (Masetšhaba), Commissioner, Commission. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to thank the following people who contributed to what has become a unique experience in my life: • My supervisor, Professor Chris Van Vuuren, for his valuable support and guidance, generous time and invaluable advice; • The University of South Africa for providing financial support from the initial stage of fieldwork; • My family, especially my spouse, Cate and son Tisetso who supported and encouraged me and assured me it was going to be easier; • The late Chief of the Batau Lobang George Kgaphola IV, Senior nobles Diphatše and Segwape Kgaphola for allowing me to conduct research and introducing me to the elderly people in the community; • Many others including Bojane Phogole and Morwakoma Makubung who provided invaluable information during fieldwork; • Professor Frik De Beer who motivated, encouraged me and always assured me that it was possible; and • Staff members at the Pretoria National Archives who were always friendly and ready to assist. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS iv ABSTRACT ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 The first walk about 1 1.2 Literature Review 3 1.2.1 Early Settlement and Migration 12 1.2.2 The Missionaries, the Church and Language 14 1.2.3 Tribes, tribal governance and the Batau Administration 17 1.2.4 From Bantustan Lebowa to the Limpopo Administration 26 1.2.5 Tribe, intervention, resistance and conflict 32 1.3 Research Questions 37 1.4 Aims 38 1.5 Purpose of this Study 38 1.6 Research Design 39 iv 1.6.1 Document Analysis 39 1.6.2 Fieldwork 41 1.6.2.1 Participant observation 41 1.6.2.2 Interviews 43 1.7 Ethical Considerations 46 1.7.1 Confidentiality 47 1.7.2 Informed Consent 47 1.7.3 Personal honesty 47 1.7.4 Ethical and cultural relativism 47 1.8 Chapter Design 48 CHAPTER 2 49 THE LANDSCAPE AND HISTORY OF THE BATAU OF KGAPHOLA AT MPHANAMA 2.1 Geographical Orientation 49 2.2 Origin and History of the Batau 53 2.3 Conclusion 69 v CHAPTER 3 71 POLITICAL INTERVENTION AND RESISTANCE: SEBATAKGOMO AND THE RANGERS 3.1 Introduction 71 3.2 Confrontation with the Community 71 3.3 Confrontation with the Authority 74 3.4 Increasing confrontation with the Community 77 3.5 A split in the Community 87 3.6 Attack and killing of the Regent (Moswarela-ngwana) 123 3.7 Conclusion 132 CHAPTER 4 134 CHIEFLY DISPUTES AND SCHISM IN MPHANAMA 4.1 Introduction: The origin of the dispute 134 4.2 The reign of Masehle 141 4.3 Disaster during the Koma (June 1970) 159 4.4 End of the Initiation period 165 4.5 Government intervention into the Batau disputes 172 vi 4.6 Establishment of the Lebowa Government 195 4.7 Resignation of Masehle Kgaphola and the Recognition of Tserere 199 4.8 Death during the female Initiation 208 4.9 Motodi contents Tserere`s Installation 219 4.10 Reintegration of Two Worrying Parties into One 223 4.11 Batau and the Limpopo Government 225 4.12 Withdrawal of Tserere and Installation of Lobang IV George Kgaphola 228 4.13 Conclusion 240 CHAPTER 5 242 NEW WINE IN AN OLD BOTTLE: GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK ACT, 41 OF 2005 5.1 The context of Traditional Leadership 242 5.2 Recognition of Traditional Communities 248 5.3 Traditional Leadership Positions 253 5.4 House of Traditional Leaders versus Regional and District Councils 255 5.5 Finances of the Traditional Councils 259 5.6 Commissions on Chieftainship Disputes 264 vii CHAPTER 6: Conclusion 270 REFERENCES 280 ATTACHMENT: GENEALOGY (i) viii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 The first walk about My first visit to the area of Mphanama was in April 2008. By then I was an anthropologist employed in the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs in the Limpopo Province. The village of Mphanama is situated between 124 kilometres east of Polokwane and 244 kilometres north of Pretoria. Old houses built with mud bricks and thatched roofs are visible as you walk around the village. I received a warm welcome from the elders of the tribe consisting of a few members of the royal family (the bakgoma and the bakgomana). It was the first time I saw a village that was not demarcated into streets around the Fetakgomo Municipality in the Sekhukhune area. In addition, there was an old building with two small offices and a community hall which were used by the Traditional Council to provide services to the community of Mphanama. On the southern side of this office, there was a large circular stone wall built with large Marula trees inside. When I asked what the purpose of that wall was, the elders told me that all the important meetings of the community took place there. The community called this big wall the kgoro (a meeting place) and it had two entrances with the one leading into the homestead of the chief. Next to this entrance, there was a graveyard along the wall of the kgoro. Inside the stone wall, there were three Marula trees and each had horns nailed on the stem. I asked why they put horns on the stem of each of the Marula trees and the elders told me that a horn was put on the stem after every important ritual held by the community during which a cow was slaughtered. Much of what I saw that day convinced me that the Batau of Kgaphola still follow a traditional lifestyle and I had a desire to stay with them for a period to learn more about them. On the northern side of the Traditional Council office, some 500 metres away, there was a similar stone wall like the one on the southern side. I wanted to know who had built it, when and for what purpose. When the elders gave me answers, I realised that there had been a group of people who had opposed the reigning chief for the leadership of Batau. I concluded that there could be many aspects worth finding 1 out about the Batau. In addition, the language of the elders which was full of poems attracted me; I was also given a Pedi name, Mmaswi, which was unfamiliar to me. At the time, I was in the process of registering for my Masters’ degree in Anthropology. The Chief of the Batau at the time, Lobang IV was an amicable young man who was interested in the history of the Batau. When I first informed him about my intention to conduct research in Mphanama, he showed his interest. He told me that the history of the Mphanama and the struggles of the past were not written down anywhere. Therefore, the young people would not know anything about their ancestors. Chief Lobang IV indicated that the Batau fought among themselves in the past. These conflicts were influenced by the political situation in the Sekhukhune area, such as the situation surrounding the Trust Land system (Boipušo). I was also informed that during this period, the community of Mphanama was divided into two groups (Makhuduthamaga and the Rangers). He invited me for an interview regarding my intention to conduct research in Mphanama. On arrival, we went to his homestead, where I met with his mother and some of his father`s children. One community member namely, Phahlane, was invited to join us. I noticed during our discussion that he had more information about the Batau. Therefore, I had an interest in making him an important informant during my research.