Who and what is AfriForum?

AfriForum is an Afrikaans civil rights organisation that protects the rights of minority groups at national as well as provincial level, and anyone who can identify with AfriForum’s principles and objectives may join the organisation. AfriForum’s community plan focuses on mobilising communities to thus take control of their own streets and neighbourhoods again. AfriForum ensures that your constitutional and civil rights are recognised and protected at national level.

Wie en wat is AfriForum?

AfriForum is ’n Afrikaanse burgerregteorganisasie wat die regte van minderheidsgroepe op sowel nasionale as provinsiale vlak beskerm, en enigiemand wat met AfriForum se beginsels en doelstellings kan identifiseer, mag by die organisasie aansluit. AfriForum se gemeenskapsplan fokus daarop om gemeenskappe te mobiliseer om só weer beheer terug te neem oor hul eie strate en woonbuurtes. AfriForum verseker dat jou grondwetlike én burgerregte op nasionale vlak erken en beskerm word.

AfriForum congratulates Kgosi Mogakolodi Masibi on 30 years on the throne

This media statement is also available in Setswana.

AfriForum congratulates Kgosi Mogakolodi Masibi – royal leader of the Batlharo Boo Tokwana Ba Ga Masibi of Disaneng, northwest of Mahikeng – on his 30th year as Kgosi of this cultural community. The commemoration of this milestone was celebrated in a vibrant manner this past weekend during the annual culture and heritage festival held in Disaneng on 26 September. At the event, AfriForum recognised Kgosi Masibi for his courage, dedicated service to his people, and perseverance in the face of great adversity.

Barend Uys, Head of Intercultural Relations and Cooperation at AfriForum, during the celebration with *Kgosi* Mogakolodi Masibi and various other royal and community leaders.

AfriForum and the Batlharo Boo Tokwana Ba Ga Masibi signed a mutual recognition and cooperation agreement in 2023. Various joint projects have since stemmed from this agreement. The joint agricultural development layer-hen project, launched in September, is the latest addition to the projects being undertaken.

Barend Uys, Head of Intercultural Relations and Cooperation at AfriForum, congratulated Kgosi Masibi on behalf of AfriForum during the weekend’s celebration. “Kgosi Masibi is a brave, serving leader who works with dedication to improve the lives of his community. AfriForum is privileged to recognise his perseverance; he simply does not give up, even under extremely challenging circumstances. Leaders with integrity and good hearts are exactly what communities in our beautiful country need – in this regard, Kgosi Masibi is an example to us all,” Uys explains.

Kgosi Selabe Mogakolodi Joseph Masibi was crowned Kgosi of the Batlharo Boo Tokwana Ba Ga Masibi on 1 March 1996 by Kgosi Setumo Montshioa and Kgosi Besele II of the Barolong Boora Tshidi. Over the past 30 years, Kgosi Masibi has served as a leader of the Molopo royal leaders organisation, Dikgosi tsa ga Molopo, in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District, as well as a member of the Northwest Provincial House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders. He has also held leadership roles within the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA), including serving as a member of CONTRALESA’s national executive committee. Furthermore, he participated in the development of the Protection, Promotion, Development and Management of Indigenous Knowledge Bill. Kgosi Masibi currently serves as the President of the Royal Leaders of South Africa (ROLESA).

Uys describes the close friendship between AfriForum and the Batlharo Boo Tokwana Ba Ga Masibi as precious. “We realise that the privilege – of being not only friends but also brothers and sisters in Christ – is a unique gift from God that we do not take for granted. Good relations and cooperation between different cultural communities, based on mutual recognition and respect, are a prerequisite for the prosperous, peaceful coexistence of all the diverse cultural communities here at the southern tip of Africa and must therefore be cherished,” Uys concludes.