Following the withdrawal of his recognition certificate, Kgosi Ramono Pilane Linchwe, former regent of the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela in South Africa, has initiated legal proceedings in the High Court. Linchwe is contesting the decision by Northwest Premier Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi to revoke his official status.
On January 15, 2026, Linchwe’s legal counsel addressed a letter to Premier Mokgosi, requesting the withdrawal of Pilane’s recognition certificate. The correspondence included a copy of a provincial gazette containing Proclamation Notice 173 of 2025. This notice documented Mokgosi’s simultaneous issuance of a recognition certificate to Kgosi Nyalala Pilane and the withdrawal of Linchwe’s certificate, both effective November 28, 2025.
“Your conduct amounts to the exercise of an administrative function and therefore must comply with the laws of the land. You took an administrative action or decision without engaging Kgosi Ramono Pilane Linchwe, knowing very well that such action or decision is prejudicial to him,” the letter stated.
Linchwe’s attorneys cited Section 33(2) of the Constitution of South Africa, which mandates that public administrators provide written reasons to individuals whose rights have been adversely affected by administrative actions or decisions.
“This constitutional obligation is given effect to, in the promotion of the Administrative Justice Act, which sets out that any person whose rights have been materially and adversely affected by administrative action and who has not been given reasons for this decision, is entitled to demand reasons for the administrator’s decision in terms of section 5 of the said legislation,” the legal representatives noted.
The letter demanded that Mokgosi furnish written reasons within seven days or rescind the decision to withdraw Linchwe’s recognition certificate.
“Should you refuse or fail to withdraw your withdrawal of the recognition certificate to our client, we will be left with no alternative other than to pursue legal action, including approaching the high court for the review of your action,” the letter concluded.
The case is scheduled for the urgent roll on February 13, 2026.
Meanwhile, on January 27, 2026, the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela royal family held a ceremony in Moruleng to celebrate the recognition of Molefe Nyalala John Pilane as Kgosi of the community. The event was officiated by Premier Mokgosi alongside Gaoage Oageng Molapisi, Member of the Executive Council for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs.