By Emily Setona
HARRISMITH – The Bakholokoe Royal Kingdom marked its ninth anniversary with a vibrant celebration steeped in culture and heritage, as King Morena Letsitsa III led the community in a ceremony held on April 28 in Letsitsa Village, Intabazwe.
The occasion was notably attended by former President Jacob Zuma, now leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, who joined the royal procession on a symbolic tour of ancestral sites.
Among the sites visited were the Harrismith Botanical Gardens and Sterkfontein Dam – areas of deep historical significance to the Bakholokoe people. Once part of the kingdom’s ancestral lands, these locations have become emblematic of broader struggles over land dispossession and identity.
“This is not just about land,” King Letsitsa III said during his address. “It’s about restoring our identity and honouring the sacrifices of our ancestors.”
Echoing the monarch’s sentiments, Zuma paid tribute to the resilience of the Bakholokoe, saying: “The Bakholokoe kingship was tarnished by colonial rule. It took 100 years before King Letsitsa III was born. This nine-year anniversary marks not just a celebration, but the revival of a nation’s spirit.”
Zuma was accompanied by MK party officials from the Thabo Mofutsanyana district, including Vusi Tshabalala and Free State convenor Sandile Mabiza. In his closing remarks, Mabiza stated: “It’s time to restore the dignity of our people by returning land to the hands of the chiefs. For 30 years, the country has been governed by a party that took land from the people. The MK party is committed to supporting traditional leaders like Morena Letsitsa.”
However, the symbolic tour took a controversial turn. The Free State Provincial Government condemned the group’s visit to the Sterkfontein Nature Reserve & Resort, which it described as unauthorized.
In a statement dated April 29, Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae labeled the entry by approximately 200 individuals as unlawful and accused the group of criminal trespass, intimidation, and incitement.
Provincial government spokesperson Matshediso Setai said:
“The illegal occupation of land and attempts to sabotage development at sites like Sterkfontein Dam are acts of anarchy and cannot be tolerated. We commend the community of Makholokoeng for choosing peace and unity during this tense time.”
Former South Africa and Mk leader Jacobo Zuma with Vusi Tshabalala during visit at Makholokoeng.
The provincial government reaffirmed that Sterkfontein Dam remains state property and warned that no private or traditional claims to the site are legally recognized. The Premier’s office emphasized the importance of tourism development in the area to promote job creation and economic growth.
As King Letsitsa III and the Bakholokoe people continue efforts to reclaim their heritage, the tensions between traditional authority and state institutions highlight the complexity of land reform in post-apartheid South Africa. The celebration in Harrismith served not only as a moment of cultural pride but also as a call for national dialogue, legal clarity, and reconciliation rooted in truth and respect.
