Maleke was a

regent In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...

of the Kwena tribe. He was the son of ''

kgosi A (; ) is the title for a hereditary leader of a Batswana and South Africa peoples tribe. Usage The word "kgosi" is a Setswana term for "king" or "chief". Various affixes can be added to the word to change its meaning: adding the prefix ''di- ...

Seitlhamo Seitlhamo (died ) was a ''kgosi'' of the Kwena tribe. He ruled from the death of his father Motswasele I c. 1785 until his own death c. 1795. He was succeeded by his son Legwale. Life Seitlhamo was the son of Motswasele I, ''kgosi A (; ...

and the younger brother of ''kgosi'' Legwale. Maleke became regent of the Bakwena after Legwale died c. 1798. As ''kgosi'', Maleke led an attack against a Bangwaketse village in Kanye to avenge the death of his father. He burned the village, and he is said to have killed Tawana, the uncle of the village's leader, Makaba. A short time later, Maleke died of

rabies Rabies is a viral disease that causes encephalitis in humans and other mammals. It was historically referred to as hydrophobia ("fear of water") because its victims panic when offered liquids to drink. Early symptoms can include fever and abn ...

after he was bitten by a dog. He was succeeded as regent by his younger brother Tshosa until Legwale's son Motswasele II became ''kgosi'' c. 1805.

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References

* * {{Africa-royal-stub Deaths from rabies Kwena chiefs Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown 19th-century regents 18th-century regents