Africa's wealthiest tribe enthrones a new king

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PHOKENG, South Africa -- Thousands of people from Africa's wealthiest tribe, the Bafokeng, joined leaders and royalty from across the continent yesterday to celebrate the enthronement of their new king.

Drums beat and a choir sang as the crowd of 20,000 witnessed the ceremony for Kgosi Leruo Tshekedi Molotlegi at a stadium in the dusty Bafokeng capital of Phokeng, about 90 miles northwest of Johannesburg.

South African first lady Zanele Mbeki, former President Nelson Mandela, Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini and Modjadji, the "rain queen" from northeastern South Africa, were among those attending the ceremony.

Mr. Molotlegi is the 36th ruler of the 800-year-old Bafokeng ("People of the Dew") kingdom -- located on the world's second-largest platinum reef -- and his family is said to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Mr. Molotlegi arrived at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Stadium on a small blue donkey-drawn cart symbolizing his alignment with the downtrodden, with over 100 singers and dancers in traditional blue outfits following him and a cheering crowd waving green, blue and cream Bafokeng flags to welcome him.

During the ceremony, the king was given a shield and a spear to symbolize that he is the protector of the people, and a leopard skin as a public demonstration and acknowledgement of his kingship over his nation.

The new king used the occasion to urge his people not to rely on natural resources for their economic strength. "Platinum is a finite resource. It is there today, but one day it will run out," the 35-year-old said. "Please don't be misled to think that platinum is the savior of our future."

Mr. Molotlegi will use his reign to implement an economic program called Vision 2020 that will use the tribe's mineral wealth to ensure that it becomes self-sufficient by 2020.

He also encouraged his people to remain true to their African heritage.

"We denigrate traditional leaders, while we fawn over European royalty. Despite what many think, there is plenty of evidence to support the idea that our traditional form of government espouses the principles of democracy," he said.

Mr. Molotlegi, the third of six children, succeeds his elder brother, King Lebone Molotlegi II, who died of a heart attack in April 2000. He is single and lives in his house on the premises of the royal residence.