Jacob Lleka Kekana of the Amandebele-a-Moletlana in Kekana Gardens, a splinter family lineage from the Amandebele-a-Lebelo Chieftaincy and the son of Zebediela Kekana, is fighting to be recognised as the real leader of the Kekana clan and the rightful heir to the Kekana legacy.
The Kekana clan claims multiple rights to land in more than four provinces, including parts of Phala Phala farm where President Cyril Ramaphosa owns a buffalo farm.
For a king, Kekana lives in a modest dwelling, and unlike other recognised kings does not receive any state assistance or yearly grants.
This is despite numerous letters and petitions to Ramaphosa, former minister Thoko Didiza and a recent letter to Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.
The Star recently visited Kekana at his home in Hammanskraal, Pretoria, to hear what he had to say about his situation.
He said: “We have land in four provinces which amount to 56 million hectares. I have multiple title deeds to prove my case. The white people of Britain and Netherlands found us here and took our land and sold it back. The land I am talking about covers Transvaal, Natal, parts of the Free State including part of what is now, Limpopo.
“However, efforts to be recognised as a King have not been granted by the ANC government, who have sent me from pillar to post every time I seek my recognition as the King of my people,” Kekana said.
The Star has seen letters and other documents that King Kekana, has in the course of three decades, been using to secure his rights from government.
Thlabane Mokhene Motuang in the book titled: ‘Traditional leaders in a Democracy: Resources, Respect and Resistance’, writes that multiple chieftaincy disputes have characterised the Amandebele Amotlane in the Majaneng area in Hammanskraal.
“According to tradition, the AmaNdebele-a-Moletlane originated in Moletlane, Zebediela, in what is today known as the Limpopo province. Their founder was Lebelo Seroto (Kekana). Lebelo was the younger brother of the reigning chief of AmaNdebele of Zebediela, Numungebe (Mamokebe), according to the then Department of Native Affairs government ethnologist Dr NJ Van Warmelo (1944).
“Because of his fluency in the Dutch language, Lebelo was said to be the middleman between the chieftaincy and the Voortrekkers, between whom relations were cordial. The Voortrekkers had arrived in the Zebediela area in the 1840s and 1850s. Van Warmelo (1944) reports that his informants mentioned the name Lebese (Sotho-ised version of Louis Trichardt); this was probably a reference to the leader, or at least one of the leaders, of the Voortrekkers,“ Motaung writes.
Kekana repeated this version of the events to The Star, adding that his side of the clan Amandebele-a-Moletlane were supposed to be recognised by the South African government but have not been granted recognition.
“This letter should not be read as a threat or shock but everything should be been seen as a blessing because of what the Royal Empire Kingdom will do for the people of this nation, and we will use God’s instruction to rule his people on his land that he has chosen for us to lead,” reads a letter by Kekana and the Royal Council addressed to Ramaphosa in 2021.
Attempts to get comment from the Presidency were unsuccessful, with his spokesperson Vincent Magwenya referring The Star to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, which was unavailable for comment at the time of going to print
The Star