North West MEC for Local Government and Traditional MEC Mothibedi Gordon Kegakilwe has called for cooperation between traditional leadership and municipalities to ensure the roll out of services to communities throughout the province.
“Traditional leadership must serve as a bond between communities under traditional leadership and the municipality for the realisation of developments geared towards uplifting their lives”, he said.
MEC Kegakilwe was speaking at the official handover and opening of the Batlhaping Ba Ga Phuduhucwana Traditional Council offices held in Taung at the weekend.
“Government has allocated funds for the implementation of service delivery projects in various municipalities. Traditional councils need to play a role in ensuring their people gain access to these services”, he said.
Declaring government’s recognition of traditional leadership, MEC Kegakilwe said government would continue to work closely with traditional leaders to develop rural areas.
“Government recognises traditional leadership as a bona fide form of leadership that has played a role in the realisation of the democracy we now enjoy and developments on tribal land are not intended to rid the traditional leadership of their role,” he said.
Reiterating the department’s commitment to supporting traditional councils in the province, he urged the Batlhaping Ba Ga Phuduhucwana Tribal Council to use the new offices to the benefit of the community.
“This handover serves as recognition of the Batlhaping Ba Ga Phuduhucwana leadership and I hope the offices bring you honour and dignity,” he said.
Accepting the offices on behalf of the community, Kgosi Tshepo Mankuroane said the premises would assist in breaching the service delivery gaps in the area. Kgosi Mankuroane said managing council matters became a challenge after tribal offices built previously through the assistance of funds donated by community members were destroyed by natural disasters in 2004.
“I am happy that government heeded our call for new premises and wish to assure Ba Phuduhucwana that these offices will work for you,” he said.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chairperson of the Provincial House of Traditional Leadership, Kgosi Moshe Mabe urged the Batlhaping Ba Ga Phuduhucwana Council to use the administrative centre to attract business and investment to their area.
“I hope the community will appreciate the level of service they will receive as made possible by their leadership through the offices, “Kgosi ke Kgosi ka Morafe”, council needs community support.
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