Bafokeng: Africa’s richest ethnic group
8th March 2017 Online Editor



The unofficial title of Africa’s richest ethnic group goes to the Bafokeng people of South Africa whose population totals a princely 300,000 subjects. At the last count, they were worth $4 billion. How did that happen, asks Pusch Commey, in a global narrative of African poverty and colonial dispossession?


ABUNDANT WEALTH:

The story goes that the Bafokeng people of South Africa, whose totem is a crocodile with closed jaws, came by its wealth through a dogged determination to own its land. Tracing its ancestry from the 12th century, they occupied the Rustenburg belt of South Africa’s Northwest Province as farmers until European migration interfered with their way of life ...

Steadily a series of “farms” were purchased that now make up the bulk of what is today the land of the Royal Bafokeng Nation. Young men were sent out to the mines to work and contribute to a fund for these purchases.

In 1925, the world’s largest deposits of the platinum group of metals, such as platinum, rhodium and palladium, were discovered on Bafokeng lands. But that was not the end of the story. Under white rule, mining companies paid a pittance in royalties to the RBN in exchange for the right to mine these metals.

Apartheid South Africa’s 1913 Natives Land Act prevented blacks from owning land outside certain areas which made up just 13% of the country, so German missionaries helped the Bafokeng set up a trust to hold it on behalf of the community, which they were able to fully reclaim at the end of white minority rule in 1994.

...

Getting the land

Getting the land was only half the battle, according to Mpueleng Pooe, a lawyer and spokesman for the Bafokeng nation. What followed in the 1990s was a “David and Goliath” battle between the nation and Impala Platinum Holdings.

After nearly five years of “very acrimonious” court battles, Pooe explains, the corporation settled and the Bafokeng won 22% of the platinum royalties in 1999. Their next smart move was to convert this into equity, making David the largest shareholder in the empire of the Goliath of Impala...


http://www.therealafrican.com/2017/03/bafokeng-africas-richest-ethnic-group/

Are they...

Yet I firmly believe their true share was 50%

Niger Deltans ( and other mining company victims) should consider this kind of arrangement

Muafrika2:
Yet I firmly believe their true share was 50%

Niger Deltans ( and other mining company victims) should consider this kind of arrangement

Wow.

Great idea but the country's all eyes on oil proceeds.

absoluteSuccess:


Wow.

Great idea but the country's all eyes on oil proceeds.

That is another problem.

The country does not have a very convincing case of ownership. That's why many settle for an insignificant share of revenue and still extended tax breaks, political protection etc to companies that do not deserve it.

Local communities on the other hand loose their land, suffer pollution, loss of income. They have everything to lose, and a better argument for ownership.

Muafrika2:
Yet I firmly believe their true share was 50%

Niger Deltans ( and other mining company victims) should consider this kind of arrangement

and now uhuru wants to give turkanas 5%. Does he read history books or follow current events?
PS: the Bafokeng are a clan of the basotho people.

Muafrika2:

That is another problem.

The country does not have a very convincing case of ownership. That's why many settle for an insignificant share of revenue and still extended tax breaks, political protection etc to companies that do not deserve it.

Local communities on the other hand loose their land, suffer pollution, loss of income. They have everything to lose, and a better argument for ownership.

You know how our policies play catch up without catching up with the needs of the citizenry to the advantage of the exploiters.

MtuMsuper:

and now uhuru wants to give turkanas 5%. Does he read history books or follow current events?
PS: the Bafokeng are a clan of the basotho people.

The African national governments have demonstrated inability to insist on contracts that make sense. I don't know what kind of hidden power these miners wield to swindle and still make governments act like their agents. It's cases like these that remind us its not yet UHURU. And that 5% is cut from the little(1% or less) that the government has will get. Not even 5% of the total revenue.

The Turkana are not smiling Am waiting to see if the oil companies will turn it into a mini civil war as they have in Nigeria. God forbid.

Thank you for the point of information. I was wondering why a I never heard of these great people.

absoluteSuccess:


You know how our policies play catch up without catching up with the needs of the citizenry to the advantage of the exploiters.

Our policies actually help them oppress.

Governments really need to get out of the way and let those swindlers negotiate with the communities they will be exploiting.

Muafrika2:

Our policies actually help them oppress.

Governments really need to get out of the way and let those swindlers negotiate with the communities they will be exploiting.

That's true, it will be on the day government in this part of the world begin to wear a human face. But having several tribal interests stalking one another is the commander in chief of African problems.

Continental fiefdom.

Muafrika2:


The African national governments have demonstrated inability to insist on contracts that make sense. I don't know what kind of hidden power these miners wield to swindle and still make governments act like their agents. It's cases like these that remind us its not yet UHURU. And that 5% is cut from the little(1% or less) that the government has will get. Not even 5% of the total revenue.

The Turkana are not smiling Am waiting to see if the oil companies will turn it into a mini civil war as they have in Nigeria. God forbid.

Thank you for the point of information. I was wondering why a I never heard of these great people.

Oil and solid mineral interests and oligarchs are just the business side of politics, they just specialize their roles, otherwise they eat dinner together. Any surprise the Halliburton ceo became VP under bush, or p*ssy grabber now in charge? Obama was a compromise candidate to assuage the world and make imperialism look cool and to undo the damage the Bush years did to Amerikkkas image. We are screwed in Africa, till we get woke and start demanding our rightful share in the world.

MtuMsuper:

Oil and solid mineral interests and oligarchs are just the business side of politics, they just specialize their roles, otherwise they eat dinner together. Any surprise the Halliburton ceo became VP under bush, or p*ssy grabber now in charge? Obama was a compromise candidate to assuage the world and make imperialism look cool and to undo the damage the Bush years did to Amerikkkas image. We are screwed in Africa, till we get woke and start demanding our rightful share in the world.

And it seems we are on a second wave of exploitation. The minerals that had slept underground for years are suddenly being "discovered" all over the place. If we don't awake soon we may end up worse off than before.

Muafrika2:


And it seems we are on a second wave of exploitation. The minerals that had slept underground for years are suddenly being "discovered" all over the place. If we don't awake soon we may end up worse off than before.

mmhhmm western economic interests are a powerful global force. They eschewed slavery and colonialism not because they were morally reprehensible, but they were too expensive to maintain. Instead they appointed superintendents and agents all over the continent, if you ask for your fair share you'll be called a foolish devil( mjinga shetani shenzi) .ring a bell?

MtuMsuper:

mmhhmm western economic interests are a powerful global force. They eschewed slavery and colonialism not because they were morally reprehensible, but they were too expensive to maintain. Instead they appointed superintendents and agents all over the continent, if you ask for your fair share you'll be called a foolish devil( mjinga shetani shenzi) .ring a bell?

Sad.

Or worse, you get sprayed with bullets for demonstrating for your "rights"

The good thing is, like Wahenga said, "everything with a beginning has an end." That end may be nearer than ever before with all the recent and ongoing wars.

A true model for a Black nation. The political and religious are intertwined in traditional leadership and language.

In Nigeria some closely related words for "Kgosi" were "Igwe" (Igbo) "Ogiso" (Edo/Benin). The Yoruba "Ade" crown designed like a nest with birds and is found in ancient Kush and Kemet.
Some of the ruling class of Yoruba were recent migrants from Sudan/Sahara/Kush (KOSO) who mixed with older natives.

Black Aboriginal leadership is what influenced Rome, Vatican City and the Pope by way of ancient Kush and Kemet.
When traditional leadership and government structures mix with Black empowerment and these traditional governments Confederate in the name of Black Power we will be a force to be reckoned with that surpasses the Vatican and the pope. Economically, spiritually, maritally, militarily, aesthetically and so on. We will have material wealth but not be materialistic.

The traditional religious-political governments are the past and the future. Point blank period

Ozouno1:
A true model for a Black nation. The political and religious are intertwined in traditional leadership and language.

In Nigeria some closely related words for "Kgosi" were "Igwe" (Igbo) "Ogiso" (Edo/Benin). The Yoruba "Ade" crown designed like a nest with birds and is found in ancient Kush and Kemet.
Some of the ruling class of Yoruba were recent migrants from Sudan/Sahara/Kush (KOSO) who mixed with older natives.

Black Aboriginal leadership is what influenced Rome, Vatican City and the Pope by way of ancient Kush and Kemet.
When traditional leadership and government structures mix with Black empowerment and these traditional governments Confederate in the name of Black Power we will be a force to be reckoned with that surpasses the Vatican and the pope. Economically, spiritually, maritally, militarily, aesthetically and so on. We will have material wealth but not be materialistic.

The traditional religious-political governments are the past and the future. Point blank period

Its true Africa - most of it, was very religious those days. But let's not forget there are oppressive African societies among us too. They need to be dealt with.

Those that still rule most of the North and as far south as Sudan. And Northern Nigeria. We can't go back to the pre colonial status quo. It's not good enough for some Africans who were considered of lower caste, slaves or subdued by other African tribal Nations. Their oppressors will just continue from where they left.

I've always thought Catholic has borrowed some black African traditions. Like ancestral worship and their role as intercessor between men and God.

Muafrika2:

Its true Africa - most of it, was very religious those days. But let's not forget there are oppressive African societies among us too. They need to be dealt with.

Those that still rule most of the North and as far south as Sudan. And Northern Nigeria. We can't go back to the pre colonial status quo. It's not good enough for some Africans who were considered of lower caste, slaves or subdued by other African tribal Nations. Their oppressors will just continue from where they left.

I've always thought Catholic has borrowed some black African traditions. Like ancestral worship and their role as intercessor between men and God.

Traditional religious political governments that promote black empowerment. Nothing like that exists in Africa. Northern nigeria? Muslim. South Sudan? Patterned after federal governments that european colonizers invented.

My quote was "When traditional leadership and government structures mix with Black empowerment and these traditional governments Confederate in the name of Black Power we will be a force to be reckoned with that surpasses the Vatican and the pope. "

Ozouno1:


Traditional religious political governments that promote black empowerment. Nothing like that exists in Africa. Northern nigeria? Muslim. South Sudan? Patterned after federal governments that european colonizers invented.

My quote was "When traditional leadership and government structures mix with Black empowerment and these traditional governments Confederate in the name of Black Power we will be a force to be reckoned with that surpasses the Vatican and the pope. "

Amen to that