North West Premier Job Mokgoro must appoint an administrator for the Bafokeng in Phokeng outside Rustenburg, the Bafokeng Land Buyers Association said on Tuesday.

CEO Thusi Rapoo said the premier was duty-bound to take necessary steps where allegations of maladministration and corruption were made against traditional leadership.

"The premier must exercise his oversight powers diligently over traditional councils and must retract his problematic strategy to remain indifferent to the plight of the poor, marginalised and vulnerable rural communities. The premier must desist from driving the aggrieved communities to the courts of law to entrench their rights when he has the power to resolve issues before they become disputes," Rapoo said.

"We believe that monies have been misappropriated, there has been rampant corruption within the Bafokeng Traditional Administration. There is enough evidence to show or to call for an investigation into Bafokeng's financial affairs, there is more than enough evidence one can lay against Bafokeng chief and traditional council."

He said traditional councils were organs of the state established in terms of legislation and were subject to public law and the Constitution of South Africa.

The association said the Bafokeng Traditional Community is an 1883 colonial-apartheid construct, different land-owned by African communities in Rustenburg were each forced by the colonial government to subscribe to the Bafokeng chiefdom under chief Mokgatle. 

"Communities subscribed to the RBN [Royal Bafokeng Nation] chiefdom with their farmlands purchased independently from the Boers. Communities now want restoration of their heritage which was first distorted/demoted by the colonists, and now perpetuated by Bafokeng chief and [the African National Congress] ANC government," said Rapoo.

He said communities were poor and unable to protect and promote their various rights against RBN and mining companies operating on their lands.

Chairperson Lucas Mekgwe said Baphiring in Luka is not Bakwena but, is an offshoot of Baphiring of Kgosi Moefi Mabalane in Mabaalstad. 

"Where we are settled is a farm called Doornspruit JQ106. This is the farm that we have claimed in 1998. We are looking forward to the restitution...We want this farm to be returned to the name of the right purchasers who are us," he said.

The association further wanted several communities it represent to break away from the Bafokeng administration.