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The Pedi or Bapedi, also known as the Sotho, Basotho, Northern Sotho, Basotho ba Lebowa, Transvaal Sotho, Marota, or Bamaroteng are a Sotho-Tswana ethnic group that speak Pedi or Sepedi. They are primarily situated in Limpopo, Gauteng and northern Mpumalanga.[
The Pedi people are part of the Bantu ethnic group. Their common ancestors, along with the Sotho and Tswana, migrated from East Africa to South Africa no later than the 7th century CE. Over time, they emerged as a distinct people between the 15th and 18th centuries, with some settling in the northern region of the Transvaal. The Pedi maintained close ties with their relatives and neighboring tribes.
Rulers
- Thulare I Thulare unified many smaller Sotho-Tswana tribes and founded the Marota Empire with the Bapedi in the seat of leadership. died in 1824, on the day of a solar eclipse and this is the first definite date we can establish in the history of the Bapedi.
- Molekutu I After the death of Thulare I, his eldest son Molekutu I ascended to the throne only to be killed two years later with the arrival of Mzilikazi north of the Vaal.
- Phetedi I Molekutu I was succeeded by his brother. Phetedi but Phetedi ruled for less than a year before befalling the same fate as his older brother Molekutu under the spear of Mzilikazi's impi.
- Sekwati I Sekwati was the youngest son of Thulare I repelled Mzilikazi and the Mthwakazi attacks by holding ground in the forests north of Magoebaskloof. Long after the defeat of Mzilikazi at Silkaatsnek, Sekwati I returned to the lands of the Marota and ascended to the throne as Kgošigolo. Sekwati died in 1861.
- Sekhukhune I Upon the death of Sekwati, Sekhukhune challenged his brother Mampuru II to combat in a succession dispute. Mampuru II is said to have declined and Sekhukhune was made Kgoši. Sekhukhune expanded both the wealth and military power of the Marota empire and when war broke out between the ZAR and the Marota, Sekhukhune was victorious. After another war with British forces Sekhukhune was captured and held in Pretoria. Sekhukune was later assassinated by his brother Mampuru II.
- Mampuru II There is much debate over the succession dispute of Sekhukhune and Mampuru II. What is known is that with the aid of British forces, Mampuru succeeded in overthrowing Sekhukhune and personally killed him in 1882. Mampuru himself ruled in exile for about a year before being executed by the ZAR government for the murder of his brother.
- Kgoloko (regent) After the death of Sekhukhune's son Morwamoche II, It was decided that Kgoloko the son of Sekwati and half brother of both Sekhukhune I and Mampuru II would rule as regent until Sekhukhune's grandson and son of Morwamoche II was old enough to rule.
- Sekhukhune II Sekhukhune II was the grandson of Sekhukhune I and the son of Morwamoche II and succeeded his uncle Kgoloko as soon as he was deemed old enough.Sekhukhune II took advantage of wartime conditions during the Anglo - Boer War to reshape the pattern of colonial relations imposed on them by the ZAR, to attempt to re-establish the dominance of the Marota in the eastern Transvaal and to negotiate favourable terms with the occupying British military forces once the ZAR was defeated.
- Thulare II Thulare II the son of Sekhukhune II predeceased his father died without issue.
- Morwamoche III Upon the death of his older brother, Morwamoche III held the throne until his death.
- Mankopodi (regent) When Morwamoche III died, his heir Rhyane Thulare was too young to rule and so Morwamoche III's wife and mother to Rhyane ruled as regent.
- Rhyane Thulare Sekhukhune III Had allegedly refused to ascend to the throne without his mother's blessing. Rhyane however did not renounce his claim to the rulership. Rhyane reasserted his claim for the throne in 1989. Rhyane Thulare died in 2007.
- Kgagudi Kenneth Sekhukhune as (regent) Kgagudi Kenneth Sekhukhune was the son of Morwamoche III and was installed as "acting king" in 1976 until such time as the complications surrounding Rhyane Thulare's succession was sorted out. However, when Rhyane Thulare died, Kgagudi Kenneth Sekhukhune attempted to establish himself as the rightful Kgošikgolo (King) of the Bapedi.
- Victor Thulare III as Thulare III Thulare III was the son of Rhyane Thulare and had disputed the kingship with the acting king, his uncle, Sekhukhune III. A court ruling in 2018 recognised Thulare III as the incumbent, but this was still disputed by his uncle, who declared his son, Sekwati II Khutšo Sekhukhune, the new king. Thulare III was confirmed as king in July 2020 after the court ruled Sekwati II's rule unlawful and ordered him to vacate the throne. Thulare III died on 6 January 2021 .
- Manyaku Thulare (regent) Upon the death of her son, the Queen mother Manyaku Thulare was announced as regent for the Bapedi people.Ramphelane Thulare, the uncle of the late King Victor Thulare III announced that none of the late kings 5 children are eligible to ascend the throne as their mothers are not "candle wives" The Bapedi nation intends to marry a 'candle wife' in Lesotho who will give birth to the heir to the throne as per the wishes of the late king. Therefore, Queen mother Manyaka Thulare will act as the regent until the candle wife is married.