opening of Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders, Giyani Legislative Chambers,
Mopani District
28 September 2007
Your Majesties and Royal Highnesses
MECs here present
Chairperson of the national House of Traditional Leaders, Khosi PF Kutama
Members of the National House of Traditional Leaders, Hosi Ngove and
Kgoshikgadi Mothapo
Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the provincial House of Traditional
Leaders
Chairpersons and members of the Local Houses of Traditional Leaders
Former members of the House
Executive Mayors and Mayors
Councillors
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
It is a pleasure once more, to partake in this most auspicious occasion
marking the opening of the House of Traditional Leaders and the celebration of
its ten years of existence. As we inaugurate members today, one is pleased to
see a large contingent of former members of this House who played a sterling
role towards its formation.
It is also our pleasure to welcome the newly elected chairpersons of Local
Houses who are with us here today. One is also pleased to receive Kgoshi
Mathebe from the newly incorporated area of Moutse, who is now formally part of
this House. On behalf of government, we wish all of you well, in your new
responsibilities and hope that you will always, walk the talk, in making our
province and the country a better place to live in.
Programme director
We find it highly opportune, that these grand celebrations are taking place
during this month of September which is Heritage Month. Heritage Month, as you
will all know, is that special period on our calendar when we cherish the
collective values and cultures, which make up the people we are, as a nation.
Through their custodianship of customs and traditions, we know that our
traditional leaders have always held the torch of heritage most high,
throughout the ages. This is what makes them so indispensable in our democratic
dispensation.
Our credence to the institution may never be complete without us paying
special homage and tribute to traditional leaders who led our people during the
most difficult times of colonial resistance. We must always honour and salute
the spirit of such great traditional leaders as; Queen Mantatise, King
Sekhukhune, King Malebogo, King Ngunghunyane and King Makhado, amongst others.
We must especially draw inspiration from the role played by other great
contemporary traditional leaders such as Chief Albert Luthuli, who never saw
contradiction between the struggle for national liberation and the relevance of
the institution of traditional leadership. Chief Albert Luthuli was
particularly one strong believer in the old saying: "Kgosi ke Kgosi ka
setshaba." In one of his 1955 messages, Chief Luthuli is recorded to have said
that:
"Traditional leaders were the centre around which the people should rally to
protect themselves from the attack of the oppressor." There are many
traditional leaders who have heeded this call by Chief Albert Luthuli, who have
since made themselves available, as the centre around which, their people
rally, when they need protection from abject poverty. This is why we remain
proud of Chief Albert Luthuli's heritage, and the legacies of others who laid a
solid foundation for the kind of society we now live in.
It cannot be doubted that, democracy has freed the institution from misuse
and has in fact, given it a larger scope and more space to mature. Contrary to
what others believed, prior to 1994, this ten years of the existence of the
House, have proven the point that, it is indeed possible, for the institution
of traditional leadership to co-exist peacefully alongside democratic
institutions.
Our people are pleased with the progressive role that the institution has
played over the years and is continuing to play in the advancement of service
delivery and in the betterment of their lives. Not least important in the 13
years of our democratic government is the peace and stability which our
traditional leaders have helped to see realised. As a matter of fact, we know
that to a larger extent, your authority has contributed significantly, to
making our province the safest province it is, compared to other parts of our
country.
As we celebrate the ten years of the existence of the House of Traditional
Leaders, we must look back with pride at the enormous achievements made within
such a short period of time. Amongst the achievements made by the House in the
last 10 years include:
* The degree of unity which is shared by all of our traditional leaders in
the House, irrespective of ethnic and cultural diversity. Perhaps this is
attributed to your adopted system of leadership which guarantee rotational
representation of all major cultural groupings in the leadership structure of
the House.
* The harmonious relations which the institution enjoys with government
departments and all chapter nine institutions in our province. To us, this is
no small feat, considering the potential dangers that are likely to occur if
such relationships do not exist.
* The passing of two pieces of legislation on traditional leadership which
are now being implemented. These to us, is a remarkable achievement, which
needs to be acknowledged and celebrated by members of this House. Apart from
these milestones, we are also pleased with the progress that is being made in
the process of building and equipping offices of traditional authorities
including the ongoing training which is being offered for capacity
building.
Members of the House will also be proud to learn that, we have now become
the envy of other provinces, when it comes to managing the institution of
initiation schools. Once again, this is because of the good working
relationship between government departments and the institution of traditional
leadership, which has been well cultivated in the last 10 years. In the last 10
years, remarkable achievements have also been made with regard to the challenge
of payment of headmen. To a greater extent, government has addressed this issue
and we believe this is now water under the bridge.
Programme director
Some of you may still recall the level of antagonism which used to
characterize relations with the then Transitional Local Councils (TLC's). We
are happy that the relationship has now changed for the better- from one which
was adversarial; to one in which both parties see each other more as partners
in development, than enemies. In this regard, we are proud that almost all of
our traditional leaders are participating in municipal councils in their ex
officio capacity.
Programme director
We are also pleased that these celebrations are taking place at a time when
we have already established local houses in all our districts. The appointment
of traditional authority staff in the offices of traditional leaders is still a
process that is underway. Once vacancies are filled, this will capacitate the
institution to carry out its mandate in the most efficient and effective
manner.
Programme director
Like any layer of government, the institution of traditional leadership is
not without blemish, nor challenges. In the coming years, we need to find
better and collective solutions to address such challenges as mismanagement of
royalties and grants by some traditional leaders, conflicts between communities
and mines, lack of beneficiation incentives for communities in mining,
agriculture, and tourism industries and challenges surrounding the land
restitution process.
If these challenges are not carefully addressed, it is possible that we may
drift into a situation where communities themselves, start to lose hope in the
institution of traditional leaders and begin fighting traditional leaders, as
we saw in the case of mining houses. All of us have a duty to guard against
this possibility from happening.
As it is customary, we expect traditional leaders to always carry themselves
with dignity, so that the institution they lead, does not get corrupted and
lose respect from the masses of our people. We must also guard against the
evolving trend of intra-family disputes which have the potential to leave the
institution paralysed if not totally destroyed. It should always be remembered
that, the well-being of the institution of traditional leaders, lies firstly
and foremost with Traditional leaders themselves.
Government normally comes into the picture when it has to certify and
recognise traditional leaders who would have been chosen by their communities,
in terms of customs and genealogy. At all times, government is guided by what
is decided by royal houses and does not take sides, on who ultimately becomes
the traditional leader at any given point. Acting contrary to these, may be
tantamount to imposing a traditional leader on their subjects.
Programme director
One other challenge we must still overcome, is the establishment of
traditional councils as required by the act. We hope this would have been
attended to by the end of February next year.
Programme director
The ten years of our interactions with traditional leaders has given us
better insights of what needs to be done to make the institution soar to
greater heights. Through interactions with traditional leaders who are
ex-officio members of municipal councils, a better sense has now developed on
how to make local government work. Together with the rest of society, our
people expect you to become active agents of moral regeneration which must
begin at a household level.
Given the wealth of experience we have gathered thus far, we believe that
there can never be any challenge that is insurmountable or too small for us to
deal with. As with our recent commitment regarding the purchase of vehicles,
government is prepared to go an extra mile in offering assistance of whatever
kind to our traditional leaders and their councils.
This is intended to ensure that we live no stone unturned in making sure
that youâre most enabled to carry out your tasks in the best possible way. Our
government will always depend on the support and guidance of this House in
carrying out its mandate and obligations, especially in rural communities. Let
us heed a Sesotho adage which says; a chief is like the moon; if it shines it
is because of the sun and stars that surround it.
"Kgosi ke kgosi ka Setshaba!"
We wish you a happy ten-year anniversary and many more years to come!
Inkomu!
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Limpopo Provincial Government
28 September 2007
