The Tsajoa Royal Family was after 35 years declared the rightful custodian of traditional leadership in Maboloka village outside Brits by the North West Provincial Government at a briefing on finalised traditional disputes and claims cases held in Mahikeng on Tuesday.
Premier Thandi Modise’s decision on the headmanship dispute that was lodged by the late Maditjeng Tsajoa against Lehlomela Emmanuel Lion was presented by MEC for Finance, Paul Sebegoe together with the MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Manketsi Tlhape.
The announcement on the Tsajoas was informed by recommendations of the Commission on Traditional Disputes and Claims which had established that the first traditional leader in Maboloka after the establishment of Maboloka Tribal Authority in 1961 was John Mota Tsajoa.
The commission had arrived at the conclusion that Tsajoa was removed from his position in 1978 for being against the erstwhile repressive Mangope Regime after analysing historical documents from North West Provincial archive and conducting one on one interviews with both the claimant and the disputant.
Premier Modise’s concurred with the commission’s recommendation for the recognition David Tsajoa the first son of John Mota Tsajoa as the headman of Maboloka Tribal Authority and the immediate removal of Lion from the headmanship of Maboloka Tribal Authority.
In order to normalise and unite the community, Modise endorsed the participation of the entire Maboloka community in the reconstitution of Sechaba Sa Bataung Tribal Council into Maboloka Tribal Council.
Meanwhile, the Premier rejected the request for elevation of the status of headmanship of Bataung ba Hlalele to that of senior traditional leadership as the claim did not meet the criteria for Senior Traditional Leadership position as contained in Section 1 (definition of a Senior Traditional Leader) of the Act.
The claim was also dismissed on the ground that the claimant and his royal family do not have proven history of existence in Maboloka village as Senior Traditional Leaders nor are they eligible for the position they are currently occupying of Headmanship.
