Following the current land claim brought up by the Makhuvhas claiming authority to the Phalaborwa land, the Ba-Phalaborwa Community Property Associations namely; Makhushane, Selwane, Maseke and Mashishimale are currently involved in a court battle to denounce the claim by the Makhuvhas and this process has led to Makhushane, Mashishimale and Selwane CPA failing to distribute funds to claimants paid out by the Land Claims Commission.
Bakgalaka Ba-Tonge Land Claim spokesperson, Makwale Mokgalaka said there is concrete published evidence confirming that the Phalaborwa (Chirimandere) land belongs to the Bakgalakas and not the Malatji’s or Makhuvha’s.
“The Bakgalaka of Phalaborwa/Chirimandere asserts that the land of Phalaborwa duly belongs to the Sena people (Bakgalaka) the Tanga/Tonge descendants. This land is now incorrectly rest in the hands of Makhushane, Selwane, Maseke, Mashishimale, Majeje and Makhuva,” explained Mokgalaka.
Mokgalaka further said the magic drums at Makhushane and Selwane were crafted by Mboromane and Masasa of the stock of Phure and Ramuthwa.
“The tradition tells us that the person who coronate/ inaugurate you is your senior or King, of which both Makikele and Selwane were coronated / inaugurated by Bakgalaka as part of Matendere of Chiri-mandere/Selematsela,” remarked Mokgalaka.
Mokgalaka said the incidence of Madini was again, an attempt by the Portuguese, Joao Albasin who brought the Shangaan to Venda in 1859 and the boers who were helping their agents to dispose them from their land.
“In 1924 the boers under Louis Botha managed to suppress us through a barrel of a gun, thus enthroning again their puppets, Selwane, Paipai and Albert.
“This was a calculated move similar to the one that happened in Zimbabwe and the purpose thereof is to control our mines,” noted Mokgalaka.
The Bakgalaka family tree amongst others includes: Malesa, Phure, Ramalepe, Ramothwa, Molewa, Mathale, Sekgodiana, Mabushe, Manyere; Bakgalaka Ba-Machete, Seale/Shokane, Hlami, Setagane, Rapatsa, Leolo and Maje, added Mokgalaka.
Some of the research findings brought to the attention of Phalaborwa Herald; Dr. Julius CC Pistorius (Archaeologist and Cultural Heritage Management Consultant) indicates that the Bakgalaka were regarded as skilled copper workers.
“They were, including Basokane, one of several pre-Malatji groups. The Bakgalaka groups are Seale, Hlame [or Selematsela],Mashale, Malesa and the Mmopa who established a firm presence in the area before the Ba-Malatji arrived,” according to Dr. Julius CC Pistorius. U. de V. Pienaar, confirmed in his “Neem Uit Die Verlede” book that the Malatji’s were not the first people to settle in Chirimandere.
“Ba-Phalaborwa, “mense van Phalaborwa”, aanvaar. Hulle was nie die eerste bewoners van daardie omgewing nie, want hulle vertel van ander mense wat hulle daar raakgeloop en verdryf het”.
Parfitt T (2006:3) states that the reference of the lemba (Bakgalaka) is provided in a Dutch report written by an official of the short-lived Dutch East Indian Company Trading Centre in 1721 at Delagoa Bay in what is today Mozambique.
The report noted that in the vicinity of Vendaland a number of different tribes were under one ruler: Balemba, Thulamela, Paraotte (byashishi), Chirimandere and Murchison … all those Kingdoms were given a name of Bisa.
Thus Chirimandere today known as (Phalaborwa) existed way back in 1721 as a Kingdom and prior to the Malatji’s arriving or settling in the land of Bakgalaka.
Cap: Bakgalaka Ba-Tonge’s spokesperson, Makwale Mokgalaka is confident of victory as his Kingdom has reopened its claim to the Phalaborwa land.
