16 Feb 2026

Residents of Tumasera have expressed gratitude to the Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa, for uniting the community through the restoration of the village’s name and the official opening of the customary court offices.

The residents thanked Minister Motshegwa during a kgotla meeting where the latter apprised them of the decision to officially open the customary court last Thursday.

The jubilant residents ululated at the decision taken by the government, saying it will bring about lasting peace and harmony.

Minister Motshegwa informed residents that Tumasera customary court would continue to provide the services it offered before its closure in 2023, such as presiding over both criminal and civil matters and hosting kgotla meetings to facilitate community consultation.

He informed the residents that following his meeting with the headmen of arbitration from Tupya, Malete, and Rasesa, it was agreed that the trio would continue to lead their respective wards and work in unison.

In addition, residents learned that, going forward, traditional leaders would alternate leadership responsibilities within Tumasera, which comprises the three wards of Tupya, Malete and Rasesa. 

The three wards, according to Minister Motshegwa would be afforded the opportunity to establish their own Village Development Committees (VDCs).

Tumasera customary court was closed in 2023 after the then-Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse, called a kgotla meeting at Tumasera and informed the residents that their villages, which had been merged, were now being separated to stand independently.

This was after a court case that ruled in favour of the residents of Seleka village wanted to own identify from the three other villages namely; Tupya, Malete and Rasesa.

Tumasera is an acronym created by combining the first two letters of four villages: Tupya, Malete, Seleka, and Rasesa.

Based on the 1995 court ruling, Seleka residents argued therefore, that including them as part of Tumasera (Tupya, Malete, Seleka and Rasesa) conglomerate of villages was invalid.

However, residents of Tupya, Malete and Rasesa were not pleased with the decision, pointing out the merger was meant to ease service delivery within the four villages.

In August 2025, Minister Motshegwa held a consultative meeting with residents of Tupya, Malete, and Rasesa to listen to their plight.

In December 2025, the government reached a conclusion after considering the reasons presented by residents, along with the guidelines set out in the 2024 National Settlement Policy, that reaffirmed Tumasera as the official village, although comprising the wards of Tupya, Malete, and Rasesa this time around.

He further confirmed at the time that the headmen of Tupya, Malete, and Rasesa would continue to lead their respective wards as before, maintaining continuity in local governance. ENDS