Parliament, Saturday, 10 October 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) on Saturday strongly condemned the reported attack on Kgoshi Mathupa Mokoena, President of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA), in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga.
The Chairperson of the committee, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said the committee was deeply concerned by this reported attack in which multiple shots were fired at Kgoshi Mokoena on Thursday, 8 October 2026, at his home. The police are investigating a case of attempted murder. “This barbaric and unacceptable act of violence threatens not only the safety of an individual leader but also the dignity, security and stability of the institution of traditional leadership,” he said.
The committee welcomed that Kgoshi Mokoena and his family were not physically injured and extended its solidarity to them, their family, the royal household and the broader traditional leadership fraternity. “Traditional leaders play an important role in community leadership, social cohesion, conflict resolution and the promotion of development at grassroots level,” the Chairperson said. “They work closely with communities and government structures to advance service delivery, address local challenges and preserve customary values and cultural heritage. Any attack on their lives undermines these responsibilities and creates fear and insecurity within the communities they serve.
The committee called on the South African Police Service to leave no stone unturned in its investigation, identify the perpetrators and bring those responsible to justice. “We urge the police to act swiftly and professionally and to ensure that all available investigative resources are used to establish the circumstances surrounding this incident so that the perpetrators face the full might of the law,” said Dr Mkhize.
The Chairperson said that swift and decisive action is essential to reassure the public that violence, intimidation and attacks against traditional leaders will not be tolerated. He said the safety of recognised traditional leaders must receive the necessary attention from the relevant law enforcement and security authorities. This must be informed by appropriate threat and risk assessments.
The committee urged all relevant authorities to strengthen measures to prevent attacks on traditional leaders. As the parliamentary committee responsible for oversight of cooperative governance and traditional affairs, including matters relating to traditional institutions, the committee emphasised the importance of protecting the integrity, authority and effective functioning of these institutions. “Violence must never be allowed to silence community leadership or undermine the role of traditional institutions in South Africa’s constitutional democracy,” the Chairperson said.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS, DR ZWELI MKHIZE.
For media enquiries, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Alicestine October (Ms)
Cell: 083 665 4345
E-mail: aoctober@parliament.gov.za
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