Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) has on Saturday strongly condemned the reported shooting attack on Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA) president Kgoshi Mathupa Mokoena at his home in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga.
The incident reportedly occurred on Thursday, 8 October 2026, when multiple shots were allegedly fired at Mokoena. Police are investigating a case of attempted murder.
Committee chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize described the incident as a barbaric and unacceptable act of violence that threatens not only the safety of an individual traditional leader, but also the dignity and stability of traditional leadership institutions.
The committee welcomed confirmation that Mokoena and his family escaped physical injury, while expressing solidarity with the family, the royal household and the broader traditional leadership fraternity.
In a committee media statement released on Saturday, Mkhize emphasised that traditional leaders play a vital role in community development, social cohesion, conflict resolution and preserving South Africa’s cultural heritage.
He warned that attacks on traditional leaders undermine their responsibilities and create fear and insecurity in the communities they serve.
The committee has called on the South African Police Service (SAPS) to conduct a thorough investigation, identify those responsible and ensure that they face the full might of the law.
“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,” Mkhize said.
He stressed that decisive action was necessary to reassure the public that violence, intimidation and attacks against traditional leaders would not be tolerated.
The committee further called on relevant law enforcement and security authorities to prioritise the safety of recognised traditional leaders through appropriate threat and risk assessments.
It also urged authorities to strengthen preventative measures to protect traditional institutions and ensure their continued effective functioning.
Mkhize said violence must never be allowed to silence community leadership or undermine the role of traditional institutions in South Africa’s constitutional democracy.
