WHILE THE NATION GRAPPLES, LIMPOPO DELIVERS: Makamu Hands BMW X5 Keys to Two Queens as Seventh Administration Turns Respect into Action
- Mpho Dube
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief
The Azanian | Truth. Fearless. Unfiltered.
AZANIAFROCOMEDIA – The Catalyst of Impact
While South Africa grapples with the Madlanga Commission, high-profile arrests, and a news cycle that lurches from one crisis to the next, Limpopo cut through the noise on Tuesday with something the country rarely sees: quiet, competent government.
The ANC-led Limpopo Provincial Government — which delivered 74% for the ANC in the last local elections, the highest in the country — showed what service looks like when protocol meets political will.
Leading the charge was MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Basikopo Makamu. And today, we give him his flowers.
In line with royal seniority, Makamu first arrived at the Bapedi Royal House. There, he officially handed over a new BMW X5 to Her Majesty Queen Regent Manyaku Thulare of the Bapedi Kingdom, the acting Queen of BaPedi.
The keys changed hands under the watchful eyes of senior members of the royal council. The symbolism was not lost: a government that does not just bow to tradition, but equips it. The BMW X5, officials said, will carry the Queen’s work into the villages where governance is felt, not just debated.
From the Bapedi Royal House, the MEC moved to the Balobedu Nation. In full ceremony, he handed over a second BMW X5 to Her Majesty Queen Masalanabo Modjadji VII.
The Rain Queen, draped in tradition, later slid into the driver’s seat of the new SUV — an image of heritage steering its own future.
“This initiative strengthens traditional leadership and ensures institutions are better equipped to serve communities and preserve cultural heritage,” Makamu said.
These were not photo opportunities. They were proof of a promise. In a week where the country watched generals suspended, dockets disappear, and institutions buckle, Limpopo offered a counter-frame: government at work. Culture respected. Delivery, not delay.
Members of the community, from elders to youth leaders, acknowledged the effort by the MEC and the seventh administration of the ANC-led government. One community member put it plainly: “When you respect the throne, the people feel respected. Today we saw that.”
Under President Cyril Ramaphosa nationally, and Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba in Limpopo, the seventh administration has been tasked with restoring trust. This week, that task took the shape of two BMW X5s, two Queens, and a department that did its job.
Basikopo Makamu brings weight to the office. The former Deputy Provincial Secretary of the ANC in Limpopo was elected as the number one additional Provincial Executive Committee member at the 11th ANC Limpopo Elective Conference from 27-29 March 2026. He secured the highest votes for the PEC — a mandate carved out in ballots, not boardrooms.
That same conference saw the top five ANC Limpopo officials elected uncontested: Dr Phophi Ramathuba as Provincial Chairperson, John Mpe as Deputy Chairperson, Ruben Madadzhe as Provincial Secretary, Pule Shayi as Deputy Secretary, and Eddie Maila as Provincial Treasurer.
From that mandate, Makamu continues to serve as the MEC of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs. He has been in that position, nothing changed. And he will continue to be a leader of the ANC. Because a PEC, he’s a leader of the ANC.
The mandate became motion. No acting. No excuses. Just work.
In a country desperate for good news, Limpopo delivered. In a province that still believes, this is why. The road to renewal is not paved with speeches. It is paved with decisions that reach people. This week, in Limpopo, that road got two new BMW X5s — and two Queens to drive the future.
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