GA-PHAAHLA
Kgoshi Letsiri Phaahla is facing legal action in the Sekhukhune Magistrate’s Court, following the evacuation of foreign nationals who owned shops at Ga-Phaahla Village on Friday 9 October 2026.
The court action follows an operation led by Kgoshi Phaahla and community members on 9 October, after a deadline of 30 September for foreign shop owners to leave the village expired.
The deadline followed an earlier ultimatum issued in August. On Friday 9 October 2026, Kgoshi Phaahla posted a night-time video on Facebook showing vehicles loaded with goods leaving the village.
Following the evictions, an urgent application was lodged by five applicants at the Sekhukhune Magistrate’s Court to dispute the removal of foreign shop owners in the village.
The case was filed on 14 October and served by the Sheriff on 15 October. The matter is set down for 27 November 2026 for the respondent, Kgoshi Phaahla, to show cause why a final order should not be granted.
Responding to the summons, Kgoshi Phaahla vows that legal actions instituted against him over the removal of foreign shop owners will not deter him. He told the publication that the Traditional Council has resolved to oppose the court application.
Phaahla said the Traditional Council will not be intimidated or dictated to by court papers seeking to force the community to cohabit with unknown people.
“We are in no way scared by this. We are not worried by these papers and the stupidity of their actions, which has far-reaching consequences for shop owners who are Ga-Phaahla residents. We can’t be dictated to, or forced to cohabit with unknown people by a court paper,” said Kgoshi Phaahla.
Phaahla confirmed that he has convened an urgent Traditional Council meeting to chart a way forward.
“We resolved to approach our legal advisor to respond to the summons, and a consultation with our attorneys to respond to their ill-advised move,” he said.
Phaahla also raised concern over two shops owned by foreign nationals that resumed trading despite the Traditional Council’s directive.
“We have noticed that two Pakistanis returned and opened their shops on Friday 16 October 2026, under instruction of one of the five applicants who went to court to dispute the removal of foreign nationals. I am going to plead with the community not to act against them pending this court matter. Whatever the court outcome, these foreigners will leave our villages. We are not compromising on that one,” Kgoshi Phaahla added.
According to Kgoshi Phaahla, a general community meeting has been earmarked to take place soon to communicate the Traditional Council’s resolutions, which include a boycott of all shops operated by foreign nationals.
Phaahla said the core of the dispute is the blatant disregard for customary law and the conditions of the Permission to Occupy (PTO).
“This is a clear disregard of customary rule because the PTO given to one of court applicants indicates that neither the site nor any portion allocated shall be leased in any way, or transferred without written consent of Traditional Council. It’s going to be interesting how he will argue against a paper in his hands, which he agreed to,” said Phaahla.