Phuthi people
The Phuthi people, are a Bantu-speaking ethnic group that form part of the Basotho Kingdom. It is ethnic group who live primarily the southern parts of Lesotho and the northern parts of the Eastern Cape.
Language
SiPhuthi is not yet recognised, but an amendment to the Constitution of Lesotho is currently awaiting approval. If passed, siPhuthi would be together with English, Sesotho, and isiXhosa one of the four official languages of the Kingdom. In South Africa, siPhuthi is not among the eleven official languages but benefits from being protected under the Bill of Rights as one of the languages spoken by South African citizens.In Lesotho, the ebaPhuthi remain culturally, politically, and socio-economically dominated by the Basotho majority and with no Phuthi paramount chiefs, they still lack political recognition. By contrast, the ebaPhuthi in South Africa has officially recognised chiefs, and the current Murena Kutloano Letuka, with his praise name Vutshemalagabi, is the 5th chief in succession.