The North West MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Gordon Kegakilwe, has called on traditional councils to work closely with municipalities to champion socio-economic transformation of rural communities. Speaking at a ceremony to hand over offices to the Batlokwa-ba-ga-Bogatsu traditional council in Tlokweng on Friday, Kegakilwe said the role played by traditional leaders in a developmental state, was critical.
"Dikgosi together with traditional councils remain a critical catalyst to make local government work better for our people. We can therefore confidently proclaim today as we mark this official opening and handover, that this traditional council and the institution of traditional leadership is recognized as the conduit of service delivery, the voice and interface between democratic governance and the age-old African customs of governance," he said.
He said government remained committed to strengthening traditional councils in pursuit of its agenda to advance the interests and development of communities. "We cannot and will not achieve to reach and improve the lives in rural areas without full participation of traditional councils. It is for this reason that we need to equip our traditional councils and dikgosi to work with us to achieve this noble goal," he emphasised.
Kegakilwe said a comprehensive training programme which is intended to assist to bring efficient and accountable governance within traditional leadership as an institution, was in the pipeline. He also mentioned that a process was currently underway to purchase cars for traditional councils in the province.
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