Family hopes to find king’s remains
Healers pinpoint Pretoria museum as resting place
The family of slain Bapedi King Kgosikgolo Mampuru II believes they are a step closer to finding his remains.
This after four religious leaders consulted by the family told them that he was buried in a shallow grave at the Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History in Pretoria.
Kgosi Mampuru II was hanged in Pretoria Central Prison in 1883 after he was apprehended for public violence, revolt and the murder of his half-brother Matsebe Sekhukhune. The prison was renamed after him in April 2013.
Royal family spokesman and researcher Serati Mampuru recently told Sowetan that at least four healers have pinpointed spots where he could have been buried.
“We consulted a royal sangoma, a ZCC [Zion Christian Church] pastor, a traditional healer and a prophet. [They] all told us that the spirit of our grandfather is in the museum.
“They say it was in that place where he took his last breath. We have spoken to the museum officials, National Prosecuting Authority and police who have shown keen interest in assisting us,” he said.
Acting director and archaeologist at the museum Frank Teichert confirmed they were assisting the family.
“We helped the family excavate the first site they chose and now [we are] helping with the second one to get permits for using ground-penetrating radar and excavation permits.”
Mampuru said last year, a sangoma “detected the king’s restless spirit in the parking bays of the museum”.
“… the authorities promised to assist with advanced tools to detect the remains before destroying the museum.
“We will [go] to Pretoria and will be taking a pastor with to complete the process.”
He said the family would fetch the king’s spirit and take it to his ancestral home in Sekhukhune, Limpopo, early next year. “However, the plan is to fast-track the recovery of his remains in order to make a single ceremony, including his befitting burial.”