Mogale Mogale

Mogale wa Mogale was born about 1810 at Wolhuterskop south east of the village of Bapong in North West Province. During this time the BaPo ba Mogale, headed by Kgosi Moerane, who was Mogale's grandfather, had been in conflict with the neighbouring BaKwena ba Mogopa. This conflict saw the loss of many of Moerane's sons including Mogale's father. Mogale was then sent to live and be raised by various family members, including Moruri who may have been his mother's father.

Moerane died in 1822, and with Mogale being only 12 at the time, one of Moerane's sons Semetsu BaTloka reigned as regent. In 1826 Mzilikazi invaded Tswana land west of the Apies River with a large invasion force. At only 16 years of age Mogale advised Semetsu to ally with neighbouring tribes of BaKwena origin like the BaFokeng and BaKwena ba Mogopa. Together this allied BaKwena force met Mzilikazi's force at what is today called Silkaatsnek (also referred to as Kutata and Mpame). Semetsu fled the battle and was later killed at Trantsekwane.

Mogale was kidnapped to prevent him from succeeding the leadership of the BaPo as Kgosi. During his capture Mogale was forced to pierce his ears in accordance with the tradition of Qhumbuza. The Tswana had no such traditions of ear piercing and thus it would have been, at least to Mogale, quite a humiliation. Moruri launched several parties to search for Mogale and once found, lead a successful attack to rescue Mogale.

After returning to BaPo lands Mogale was crowned Kgosi but had to remain in hiding in the Magaliesberg Mountains for some time until Mzilikazi was expelled from the Transvaal by the Voortrekkers in the 1830s. In 1837 Mogale settled along the Magalies River (called nKgakhotse before being named after Mogale). Mogale subsequently became good allies with many neighbouring tribes as well as the Voortrekkers. In 1841 Mogale assisted the Voortrekkers in an attack on Gozane who was one of Mzilikazi's induna's.