Mpumalanga Premier recognizes Mmadira Maloka as Kgosi of Bakgatla Ba Mocha Ba Maloka

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Following decades long battle for the sit in the Bakgatla Ba Mocha Traditional Council about the rightful heir of the Chieftaincy, Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Ntsweni-Tsipane has withdrawn the recognition of Chief Ntokolo Maloka as the chief in the community to officially recognize Mmadira Deborah Maloka.

This was confirmed in a gazette signed by the Premier on November 25, 2022 which said that Mmadira Maloka is recognized as the chief of the community with immediate effect.

The traditional council has been marred with controversy with some of it playing itself out in public causing division both in the traditional council and the community.

In January 2021, we wrote a story about traditional council offices being forcefully closed preventing certain duties from being performed.

In the same fighting, allegations of corruption within the council were raised by some community members and certain family members opposing Ntokolo Maloka as the chief.