BLBA Annual General Meeting resolves to mobilise ground support

The BLBA held a successful Annual General Meeting on the 30 November 2014.

The meeting resolved amongst others to intensify its community based activities and support. To commemorate the Human Rights month of March 2015, rallies will be held in various  Bafokeng communities in protest against human rights injustices caused by mining and the Royal Bafokeng Nation.

A general meeting will be arranged for the 21st March 2015 (Human Rights day).

Tshasa, the Association's newsletter released at the meeting, reports that the suspension of the RBN's COO and the chairperson is merely a scapegoat, and that it is the Bafokeng Chief who should be suspended.

Read the newsletter here: Tshasa -November 2014

The Organisational report is available here: 2014 BLBA Organisational Report

BLBA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - 30 November 2014 - 9am at Rustenburg Old Town Hall. R100.00 entrance fee

Bafokeng Land Buyers' Association (BLBA) will hold its Annual General Meeting on the 30th November 2014, 9am, Old Town Hall (Cnr Fatima Bhayat Street and Beyers Naude Drive, Rustenburg, Next to Rustenburg Municipal Building).

 

Legal representatives will be present to, amongst others, give an update on the Mafikeng High Court Case 999/08 and to reflect on the extended period for communities' to lodge new land claims.

 

Community leaders from Bafokeng villages and those persons who deposed court affidavits on behalf of communities, shall be required to sit as part of the front panel and are therefore requested  to prepare +10 minutes presentations on recent developments in their communities requiring BLBA attention. 

 

As people may be aware, there is a lot of serious issues and developments taking place within the Bafokeng Administration needing serious attention, and as such the meeting shall strive to be prompt and strict on time. People may have heard, for instance about retrenchments, suspensions and criminal investigations taking place in senior offices at RBA.

 

As usual, entrance at the meeting is R100 per person which contribution will be towards meals and office-keep. Lunch will be served at 1:30pm.

 

All interested persons are welcome to attend, and further information and private arrangements may be obtained from the following leaders: March Motene (Chaneng-083 680 8803), Phillemon Khunou (Tsitsing-071 481 3090), Michael Nape (Thekwana- 073 198 8634), Ernest Setuke (Lefaragatlhe-073 304 7172), Sonny Senne (Kgale-082 961 9185), Lucas Mekgwe (Baphiring-083 740 9297), Thusi Rapoo (Mogono- 073 443 5699).

Bafokeng bankrupt, the chief escaping?

It has come to our attention that since Niall Caroll resigned as Bafokeng chief financial investor, with a more than R1,5 billion handshake, the Bafokeng authorities have been cautioning bankruptcy.

It is reported that the chief acknowledged poor oversight and advised Council not to pursue the handshake as it was based on the contract the Bafokeng had with him (Niall). The chief went further to announce that platinum revenue has dropped, leaving the Bafokeng in the red.

It is reported that massive retrenchments are currently ongoing at the RBA and the COO’s powers diminished.

To top it all, the chief has announced that he is going into business for himself and is set on opening a family Trust. It is reported the chief is worried about the hardship his family experienced at the hands of the Magope regime when his father was exiled to Botswana.

Jacob Zuma was recently chastised for appointing himself a chairperson of a Non-Governmental Organization. The NGO called Masibambane Trust, is worth more than R1 billion. A lot of Rural Development Departmental budget was funneled to the NGO to implement what was essentially Departmental agricultural programs. It is understood the President has since resigned.

The moribund Bafokeng Development Trust and the recent failed attempt by the chief to register Bafokeng land in his name has effectively scuppered the chiefs plans to have total control over the Bafokeng assets.

His plans to open a private entity and his request to go on a long sabbatical has left much suspicion to a number of concerned Bafokeng communities.

BLBA General Meeting, resounding success

The well attended Kgotha kgothe (general meeting) of the Bafokeng Land Buyers' Association held over the weekend, 02/03/2014, was a resounding success. Most people who attended ushered words of encouragement and a much bigger AGM scheduled for August/September 2014.

Following a presentation by Thusi Rapoo on the state of the Association and its performance for the past six months, the Legal Resources Centre gave an update on the communities' ongoing land claims at the Mafikeng High Court and at the Land Claims Court in Randburg. Dr Gavin Capps called for more research to be conducted in the area.

The Bafokeng chief, Leruo, was admonished for wasting Bafokeng and taxpayers monies on poor (legal) advice he is getting in his failed and ongoing attempt to have 61 farms registered in his name. It is alleged the chief registered a private company/ trust for his (family's) sole interest following a petition by communities last September to have tribal accounts frozen. (Find petition here: Bafokeng Communities' Petition to the State ).

The meeting resolved amongst others to lodge a court challenge to the Municipality's unconstitutional and prohibitive list of requirements as barriers to protest demonstrations. Two of these requirements states that (1) permission should be obtained from the chief allowing communities to march against him (chief), (2) authorization must also be obtained from the chief for communities to gather in public open spots, including parking bay at the Bafokeng Civic Centre or even at the gate/entrance to the Centre.

See the Organisational Report here: BLBA Organisational Report, General Meeting, 02 March 2013 

BLBA General Meeting - 02 March 2014 - 9am Old Town Hall. R100.00 entrance fee.

Bafokeng Land Buyers' Association (BLBA) will hold a General Meeting on the 02nd March 2014, 9am, Old Town Hall (Cnr Fatima Bhayat Street and Beyers Naude Drive, Rustenburg, Next to Rustenburg Municipal Building).

 

Community leaders from Bafokeng villages should prepare 10 minutes presentations on their experiences regarding Bafokeng traditional governance. 

 

Legal Resources Centre (LRC) will be present to give an update on the recent January 2014 Court judgment. The judgment instructs the chief to, amongst others, proof that he was properly mandated to register land in his name.

As usual, entrance at the meeting is R100 per person which contribution will be towards meals and office keep. Lunch will be served at 1:30pm. All are welcome to attend.

 

Further information and private arrangements may be obtained from March Motene (Chaneng-083 680 8803), Phillemon Khunou (Tsitsing-071 481 3090), Michael Nape (Thekwana- 073 198 8634), Ernest Setuke (Lefaragatlhe-073 304 7172), Sonny Senne (Kgale-082 961 9185),Lucas Mekgwe (Baphiring-083 740 9297), Thusi Rapoo (Mogono- 073 443 5699).