Sitting of the Third Democratic Mpumalanga Provincial House of Traditional
Leaders Nelspruit
23 March 2007
Honourable Chairperson of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders,
Inkosi MD Mthethwa,
Members of the National and Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders,
Esteemed Majesties,
Kings and Chiefs of our people,
Your Excellencies,
Traditional Leaders from sister Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders,
Bayete! Zingonyama naMakhosi,
Esteemed guests,
Comrades and Compatriots,
Ladies and gentleman
Chairperson, allow me to preface my address to this House by addressing you
in person and convey my deepest condolences to your office and yourself
personally, over the untimely death of Mr Dlongolo, your driver and aide, last
week Saturday. Crime has once again out-shorted a valuable life and robbed us
of an important community member and a beloved individual from yet another
family which is today overcome with grief. To the Dlongolo family, we pledge
our heartfelt sympathy at this difficult moment in your lives. May the grace of
our Creator offer you comfort eternally.
Chairperson, we hope the community of Piet Retief will take up this
challenge never to succumb to those among us with nefarious plans, by ensuring
that the perpetrators of this murder are brought to book. Chairperson, it is a
privilege once again, to be hosted by this esteemed House on the occasion of
the sitting of the Third Democratic Mpumalanga Provincial House of Traditional
Leaders.
This occasion takes place against the backdrop of the commemoration of the
South Africa's Human Rights Day, two days ago, reminding us of the immense
collective responsibility we have as a nation to work towards creating a caring
society in which all citizens enjoy human rights to freedom, democracy,
security, human dignity and equality.
This House is a fitting reminder of the legacy bequeathed on us in that
struggle by your fore bearers, through the glorious resistance wars against
colonial conquest and subjugation. We salute them for their gallant
contribution for sowing the seed that gave birth to a democratic nation, with
rights equally enjoyed by all the citizens of our land.
The opening of the provincial House of Traditional Leaders signals another
critical moment in the continuing struggle for bringing needed development to
create possibilities for our communities to progressively realise their social
and economic rights. It is a call to all of us to recommit to yet another
programmatic year that will propel us forward with urgency and speed required
to emancipate our communities from poverty, deprivation and
underdevelopment.
As government, we recognise the pivotal role that our traditional leaders
have played in strengthening development efforts in communities under their
jurisdiction. For us, it is essential to provide the necessary space and
support to traditional leadership institutions, to contribute to strengthening
the system of local government through systematic and structured participation
in development and service delivery initiatives of government. As we indicated
on previous occasions, our commitment to supporting the institution of
traditional leadership in our democratic system of governance is
unwavering.
In the 2007/08 financial year, we will conclude the process on transforming
the Mpumalanga House of Traditional Leaders to assume its autonomous status as
a legislative entity to enhance its performance of the oversight role in terms
of the legislation. In consultation with the Chairperson, we have already
identified the building that will house the provincial House of Traditional
Leaders. Within two months, Members of the House will move to their new
premises.
In the context of the Five Year Strategic Agenda for the support of
institutions of traditional leadership developed by the Department of
Provincial and Local Government (DPLG), the province seeks to reaffirm its
commitment to providing the necessary support required by these institutions.
As government, traditional leaders are key development partners in the design
and implementation of programmes aimed at addressing poverty and
underdevelopment in areas under traditional leadership jurisdiction.
Work on the establishment of traditional councils in line with the
Constitution as well as the national framework on traditional leadership is at
an advanced stage. Draft guidelines have been tabled and will soon be consulted
with all stakeholders as well as our traditional leaders. To make quick
advances on this front, there is a need to deal with information management
challenges so that the integrity of population statistics within the boundary
and jurisdiction of each traditional leader is validated before the voting
processes commence. We appreciate the support from Statistics South Africa and
the Department of Land Affairs to help us resolve outstanding issues in this
regard.
Chairperson, I am pleased to report that government has allocated an amount
of six million rand to support to the process of establishing traditional
councils, including those from Bohlabela. In addition, government has allocated
seventeen million, four hundred and seventeen thousand rand (R 17 417 000) over
the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period to provide for the
recognition of our Headmen (Amaduna). This will enable us to begin to pay
allowances to our traditional leaders who are at village level.
To give meaning to the involvement and participation of traditional
leadership institutions in service delivery, Local Houses of Traditional
Leaders have been established in the three Districts. The three local Houses of
Traditional Leaders in the three district municipalities were elected during
the month of February 2007. The process is underway to finalise the provision
of accommodation and support infrastructure required for the effective
functioning of Local Houses of Traditional Leaders in Districts.
We welcome this positive move, as it will contribute a great deal to
creating the environment that properly co-ordinates traditional leadership
input into integrated development planning processes in municipalities, service
delivery initiatives in traditional communities, as well as regulatory
initiatives impact on areas under traditional leadership jurisdiction. We would
like to congratulate our traditional leaders who have been elected to serve in
the local houses and wish them well in discharging their responsibilities. Our
profuse gratitude goes to Chief Magistrate DD Ngobeni for assisting in the
establishment of local houses. With the leadership commitment and support from
the Districts, we are thrilled by the prospect of improved partnership between
municipalities and institutions of traditional leadership.
As we enhance the governance of traditional leadership institutions, we
should recognise the obligation to open up space and provide support for women
leadership roles in our traditional communities. We salute and appreciate the
current prevailing spirit demonstrated by traditional leaders in our country to
genuinely embrace and promote the appointment of women royalty into traditional
leadership positions. We must not support the view that African culture and
customs cannot be celebrated and defended through the leadership of women.
We note with appreciation that all women traditional leaders have been
assigned leadership roles in the recently established local houses of
traditional leaders in the Districts. Our representation in the national House
of Traditional Leaders by one of our women traditional leaders is a source of
inspiration for the recognition of women leadership in institutions of
traditional leadership.
In asserting women leadership roles, we must take this opportunity to make
the point that it is equally important to combat the general abuse of women and
children. Our traditional leaders should entrench social systems and values
that accord dignity and respect for women in order to stop women abuse under
the pretext of African culture. In defending the rights of children, the
elderly and people with disabilities, traditional leaders should co-operate
with government, the police and law enforcement agencies to expose perpetrators
of atrocities so that they bear responsibility for their criminal actions.
We are encouraged by the contribution of traditional leaders in implementing
outreach programmes to hospitals, prisons, schools, old age homes, child-headed
families and people with disabilities. We believe that experiences gained in
the interaction with the poor and vulnerable sectors of our society will enrich
government's interventions targeted at these communities. The visible role that
traditional leaders play in monitoring the implementation of projects in their
areas will assist government in identifying and correcting bottlenecks and poor
service delivery where these instances occur.
We thank the traditional leaders for their contribution to addressing the
ravaging HIV and AIDS pandemic. It is remarkable how they have taken a keen
interest in acquiring information regarding the HIV and AIDS pandemic. Reports
from various departments show that there is widespread collaboration in sharing
valuable information through joint workshops and seminars with the provincial
house of traditional leaders. These collaborative efforts must culminate in the
fostering of strong partnerships within our communities to galvanise all
stakeholders into collective action to combat and contain the spread of this
epidemic. We must do everything in our power to demonstrate our commitment to
respect the right to life.
Chairperson, we recognise that one of the interventions required to support
traditional leadership institutions is capacity building to empower traditional
leaders to participate with greater impact in development and service delivery
initiatives in areas under their control. Working in partnership with the
national House of Traditional Leaders, Local Government Sector Education and
Training Authority, South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and
DPLG, it will be crucial to identify capacity development needs and design
programmes to improve the capacity of traditional leadership institutions to
executive their functions as required by the legislation.
The capacity of traditional leadership institutions should be enhanced to
support government programmes aimed at promoting access to government services
to rural communities, especially in remote areas. Government interventions to
improve service delivery include the establishment of Multi-Purpose Centres
(MPCCs) to create one-stop service centres for services such as welfare,
police, health, economic services, agricultural support etc, the deployment of
Community Development Workers to assist communities with services and the
deployment of mobile clinics in remote areas to make health services accessible
to all. These government initiatives aim to improve integrated service delivery
to create citizen convenience.
In delivering these programmes, it is crucial that government enlists and
receives the participation of traditional leaders in the work of improving the
lives of communities through these services. A healthy working relationship
with ward councillors deployed in traditional communities is necessary to
successfully facilitate development for the benefit of the poor.
Chairperson, ladies and gentlemen, we must acknowledge that the most
destructive form of economic deprivation has been inflicted upon the people who
live in rural communities. As we work towards halving unemployment and poverty
by 2014, we must recognise that the rural economy, where traditional leaders
have jurisdiction, must contribute to the anticipated average 6% economic
growth so that it contributes to much needed jobs and poverty reduction. It is
therefore critical to think creatively about different ways of unlocking
potential avenues for local economic growth in these areas.
All of us would agree that one of the defining features of traditional
leadership is the land held in trust by traditional leaders on behalf of their
communities. This land, if managed well, presents a huge opportunity for
development. It presents, among other things, opportunities for attracting
investors who can partner with their communities in development projects in
areas under the jurisdiction of traditional leaders. In some cases, the old PTO
(Permission to Occupy) may be sufficient. In other cases it may be necessary to
allow long-term leases and even title deeds in order to enable huge investments
in the rural economy. As the rural economy increases its labour absorption
capacity, it provides jobs for young people and stops out-migration to towns
and cities for employment opportunities.
Chairperson, effective utilisation of communal land also offers prospects
for growth in agricultural output in rural economies. As we indicated in the
State of the Province Address in February this year, government has prioritised
land to ameliorate the plight of rural communities through scaling up the
implementation of Masibuyel' emasimini to provide support to substance farming.
Major agricultural anchor projects have been identified in key commodities such
as macadamia, sugarcane, essential oils and soya beans to ensure that we
maximise the growth potential offered by these commodities.
In order to benefit communities in rural areas, traditional leaders need to
identify niche areas of agricultural growth so that support could be provided
through the government's Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP),
and other funding support initiatives. We see communal land as a strategic
asset at the hands of traditional leaders for use to impact positively on
unemployment and poverty reduction.
As the province intensifies the implementation of the 'Big Five'
developmental flagship projects, the role of traditional leadership
institutions becomes increasingly important in collaborating with government to
facilitate development and access to services. These 'flagship' projects
respond directly to the socio-economic development needs of our province.
It is common knowledge that some of the areas hard-hit by the lack of water
services infrastructure are rural areas where the majority of our traditional
communities live. The prioritisation of the 'Water for All' flagship project to
roll out water services to all by 2010 will hugely benefit these traditional
communities. It is, therefore, incumbent upon all traditional leaders to play a
central role within municipalities in ensuring that the rollout of these
services proceeds without problems and reaches all the intended beneficiaries.
For this to happen, community mobilisation and participation is crucial.
Chairperson, it is anticipated that traditional communities along our
flagship Maputo and Moloto development corridors will benefit from economic
development initiatives that are intended to create jobs. In partnership with
municipalities, traditional councils will need to engage proactively in matters
of local economic development that impact on areas under their
jurisdiction.
In addition to these initiatives, traditional leaders should take a leading
role in supporting poverty alleviation initiatives presented through road
infrastructure development and maintenance in their areas. The government's
Expanded Public Works Programme responds to the need to create job
opportunities in infrastructure development and social development
interventions, such as Early Childhood Development and Community Home-based
Care. These are government initiatives that must be supported actively by
traditional leaders in order to benefit targeted beneficiaries.
Honourable Leaders and Colleagues, our origin, identity and our land are our
heritage and a sense of nationhood as a people. They are mediated through
culture and language. Our culture, value systems, thinking, norms and
traditions are inscribed in our languages. It is for this reason that we see
the role of traditional leadership institutions as pivotal in the promotion of
indigenous cultures and languages as well as the celebration of provincial
heritage to benefit present and future generations.
The implementation of the Tourism, Heritage and Greening Mpumalanga flagship
project focuses on the elements of defining, properly recording, and preserving
Mpumalanga's heritage. It also prioritises the 'greening of the province'
through improving biodiversity conservation, sustainable environmental
management practices, and protection of sensitive ecosystems, including sites
of heritage significance. In turn, a green province and its heritage will
generate opportunities for the promotion of tourism in the province, thereby
contributing to tourism development and job creation.
As custodians of culture and heritage, traditional leadership institutions
have a significant role to play in working with government to educate and
mobilise communities on issues of heritage and sound environmental management
practices in their areas. Traditional leaders should support projects that seek
to showcase heritage and nature-based tourism experience for international and
local visitors to the province. Tourism in Mpumalanga is not only about Kruger
National Park, but it includes an experience of fascinating heritage, culture
and its people in every corner of the province. The empowerment of rural
unemployed people to participate in the tourism sector as tour operators and
guides will contribute to the creation of job opportunities, especially in
tourism routes and destinations located in rural and traditional
communities.
Chairperson, one of the main issues raised at the meeting of the national
House of Traditional Leaders on 24 August 2006 in Cape Town is the central role
that the traditional leadership institutions need to play in moral regeneration
programmes. Traditional leaders should promote moral values that encourage
respect for human life and dignity, discourage criminal behaviour and the abuse
of women and children, and promote responsible sexual behaviour and choices for
young people to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS as well as other sexually
transmitted diseases.
There has to be work towards strengthening the family unit as a basic
constituent part of society. Building strong families in our communities will
contribute to improved moral values in society as a whole. Traditional leaders
should work with other organisations, including organised local government,
religious bodies, women and the youth to implement moral regeneration
programmes that promote social cohesion. We thank the traditional leaders for
the collaborative initiatives that they have undertaken with government and its
social partners in promoting moral regeneration. We are confident that these
interventions will contribute to strengthening the moral fibre of our
society.
Chairperson, we believe that the solid foundation for traditional leadership
institutions to play their role in the democratic governance system of our
country has been laid through sound policy and legislative instruments. What
should occupy our attention now is the accelerated implementation of national
and provincial legislative frameworks on traditional leadership as well as
programmes that will advance growth and development in our traditional
communities.
We should enhance the alignment of our strategic plans with the plans of the
national house and local houses of traditional leaders so that there is a
shared vision and co-ordinated action and development impact towards improving
the lives of communities.
On behalf of the government and the people of Mpumalanga, I wish this House
well in the performance of challenging but exciting work ahead, and declare the
Third Sitting of the Third Democratic Mpumalanga House of Traditional Leaders
open.
I thank you.
Issued by: Mpumalanga Provincial Government
23 March 2007
