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·      Gladwin Koketso Mvianga (30) wants the North-West government to investigate his claim to the Royal Bafokeng chieftaincy ·      Mvianga claims he is the son of late chief, Kgosi Lebone II ·      He wants his DNA compared against the late chief’s

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Sizwe sama Yende

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A claimant to the throne of the Royal Bafokeng has filed papers in the North-West High Court to get an order that directs the provincial House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders to institute an investigation or inquiry into the chieftaincy dispute.

Gladwin Koketso Mvianga (30) claims that he is the rightful heir to the chieftaincy of the one of the richest traditional communities in Africa, currently held by Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi – the younger brother of Kgosi Lebone II who died in 2000.

Mvianga alleges that he was born of a relationship between Kgosi Lebone II and his mother, Stella Juliet Setshedi. The couple did not marry nor was Mvianga introduced or accepted by the royal family.

The claimant was raised by his stepfather from Mozambique in Phokeng, North-West, hence he uses his surname.

Mvianga began a campaign to claim what he believes is rightful his in 2020. A DNA test was done, but he has cried chicanery about the processes followed that led to the results coming back negative. Mvianga is now leaning towards the idea of having the test done from the specimen of Kgoshi Lebone II.

This may only mean that Kgosi Lebone’s body will have to be exhumed.

In his papers, Mvianga said he believed that as far as he was aware, he was the only child that the late chief left and therefore the only heir to the throne.

Mvianga wants the court to issue an order directing the House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders to constitute an investigation or inquiry into the dispute he lodged about the senior traditional leadership of Royal Bafokeng.

“In the event the House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders fails to comply with the order to resolve the dispute, the premier (Lazarus Mokgosi) is ordered to resolve the dispute lodged by the applicant within a reasonable period,” reads his application.

The application will be heard on July 9 2026 in the North-West High Court in Mahikeng. A notice of the hearing was served to Mokgosi, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Oageng Molapisi, the House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders and the Royal Bafokeng on September 10.

Mokgosi’s spokesperson, Sello Tatai, said: “We can’t comment. The matter is sub judice.”

Director of operation in Kgosi Leruo’s office, Bashi Makgale, did not respond to a request to comment.

Mvianga said in his affidavit that Kgosi Leruo should not have taken over as senior traditional leader after Lebone II’s death,

“It is trite that I should succeed Kgosi Lebone II as his only child. In terms of the custom governing the Royal Bafokeng Nation I ought to have succeeded him as Kgosi and/or senior traditional leader,” he wrote.

“However, Kgosi Lebone II was succeeded by his younger brother, Kgosi Leruo. I dispute that the identification and/or succession of my late father by Kgosi Leruo was in accordance with Royal Bafokeng’s customary law. Kgosi Lebone II could only be succeeded by his heir, which in this case is myself.”

Mvianga said that he tried to resolve the dispute with the royal family but failed. He was invited for a DNA test a few years back, but

“I disputed the correctness of the foresaid DNA results. I have been advised that the only accurate results will be by comparing the DNA between myself and my late father,” Mvianga said.

“Having set out the position adopted by the Royal Bafokeng Nation and the royal family, it has now become necessary for the House of Traditional Leaders to consider the dispute in terms of section 21 (2)(a) of the [Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act 3 of 2019],” he said.