Native Affairs Department [NAD] officials alleged that the brothers, Willie Nicaand Mack Kgwete, from Sekhukhuneland, Lydenburg District, [Northern Transvaal, now Limpopo Province] were embroiled in succession disputes in Sekhukhuneland, with the former claiming the chieftainship when Maukeng Kgwete died.
There were claims of illegal meetings and threats to kill the Chief. Despite fines and imprisonment, it was feared that on their release in late 1962 (Mack) and 1963 (Willie) the brothers would harm the Chief and so their banishment was requested.
Willie Kgwete was banished to Native Trust Farm No. F.32, King William’s Town District, [Eastern Province, now Eastern Cape] on 2 November 1962.
Willie Nica Kgwete died in banishment on 2 August 1971.
• Contribution by Professor S. Badat, Rhodes University, 2012. From the book, Forgotten People - Political Banishment under Apartheid by Professor S. Badat