There had been periodic unrest at Mabieskraal (Pilansberg), Rustenburg District, Transvaal (now North West Province) from the 1930s onwards. During the 1950s, the regent, Jeremiah Rakoko Mabe, and his councilors and a large section of the community opposed the introduction of Bantu Authorities. They ‘stated that acceptance of this system would amount to rule by government officials rather than the traditional tribal leaders.’
The Government then served him with a banishment order. The banishment order of 9 September 1949 alleged that Mabe and six others had ‘created a feeling of hostility against’ Acting Chief Mokgatle Mabe, that ‘they have interfered in tribal matters to the detriment’ of the community, that ‘they have held meetings in conflict with the recognized tribal law and custom,’ and that ‘they have failed or refused to attend meetings called by the said Acting Chief.’ Mabe was accused of having ‘usurped the functions of Acting Chief Mokgatle Mabe.’
On 14 May 1952, the previous order was revoked. Acting Chief Mokgatle Mabe’s service was terminated and Jeremiah Mabe was appointed Chief. During Mogatle Mabe’s reign there were ‘reports of victimization, strong-arm methods, and hut-burnings.’ The dissension and unrest abated.
A new order dated 19 December 1955, banishing Jeremiah Mabe from Rustenburg to Vryburg, (in the present day North West Province) was rejected by the Supreme Court on the basis that ‘the Natives concerned were not afforded the opportunity of showing cause why they should not be removed.’ The 1927 Native Affairs Act was amended ‘so as to permit of the issue of a removal order without prior notice to the person concerned.’
A new June 1956 banishment order noted that ‘Ministers are still of the opinion that it is necessary in the interests of peace, order and good government that [they] be removed from the district of Rustenburg.’
Mabe and others were then banished to Driefontein Native Trust Farm Vryburg District, Cape of Good Hope.
The order of 6 June 1956 was withdrawn on 29 August 1972. The Minister of the Bantu Affairs Department stated in 1962 that Mabe had escaped from banishment on 23 April 1961.
According to the author of Really inside Boss: a Tale of South Africa's Late Intelligence Service, Petrus Cornelius Swanepoel, Chief Jeremiah Rakoko Mabe was rescued from banishment and taken to Bechuanaland.