North West MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs China Dodovu said his department has set up structures to ensure renewed functioning of institutions of traditional leaders, make it to function better and reach greater heights. Dodovu said this yesterday when addressing members of the House of Traditional Leaders during their year – end closing function.
“There is a significant progress registered to make the institution of traditional leaders to function even better, however there are issues that needs special attention and there are structures in place to ensure that. We have submitted to the Treasury for an improved budget to build more offices of traditional councils across the province in 2013, to provide councils with tools of trade to do their work better and fulfill their legislative mandate”, Dodovu said
Dodovu also committed that his department will ensure payment to members of traditional leaders in no time and that they will resolve all the concerns raised regarding the administration processes in different traditional councils. He said they are also going to establish new traditional councils by holding elections before the end of March as the term of the current councils have expired.
“Dikgosi continue to play a pivotal role in the general well-being of our communities, improving the lives of our communities and resolving disputes. They even shape us politicians into becoming better leaders. Since I assumed my duties as the MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs and facilitated the establishment of new House of Traditional Leaders and other matters, I now have a better understanding of the challenges in traditional affairs and ways to solve such problems. With a collective we will build a formidable team that will succeed and continue to deepen the relations with government and resolve the existing and emerging disputes in a fair and unbiased manner,” Dodovu said.
“Don’t forget that as we bid farewell to 2012 we have once again this year proved that our traditional leaders are the pace setters and our role is even appreciated at national level, something which raised our profile as the province.
The re-election of Kgosi Phopolo Pontsho Maubane of Bakgatla ba Mochane as the National Chairperson of the National House of Traditional leaders is an indication that the province has a pool of proficient leaders who have a lot to offer to the rest of the country. “Having said that, I wish you and your family peace, love and joy in abundance over the holiday season”, MEC Dodovu concluded.
The provincial chairperson Samadoda Zibi said working as a collective and receiving the necessary support from government, even in years to come we will reach the objectives we have set for ourselves as the traditional house and we will never fail government as well as the citizens of this province.
“Together with government we are committed to prioritise the stabilisation of governance in traditional leadership areas, to function better and effect positive change to our communities. With the deserved recognition that we get from government we have no reason not to become a better institution in the following years”, Kgosi Zibi said.
