Your Majesties and Royal Highnesses – our Kings;
MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs;
Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and members of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders;
Chairpersons and members of the Local Houses of Traditional Leaders in Limpopo;
Leaders of Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders from other provinces;
Leadership of CONTRALESA led by Kgoshi Setlamorago Thobejane;
Provincial Leadership of SALGA; Executive Mayor and Mayors present;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen.
Let me start off by extending my appreciations to the House for inviting me to this august occasion, marking the Annual Opening of Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders.
As you all know, the House of Traditional Leaders is an important organ of the state established by Act of Parliament, primarily charged with the responsibility of advising government of matters of culture and tradition.
The fact that major part of our province is, largely, rural means that a significant number of our people are under your jurisdiction as traditional leaders. This speaks to the huge task you have on your shoulders as traditional leaders in Limpopo.
The role you have to play in shaping our democracy and building an egalitarian society is therefore insurmountable.
As Jacob Zuma President has said on the occasion of the sitting of the National House of Traditional Leaders you should help us answer the following questions going forward:
- How do we as a country, ensure that the institution of traditional leadership and communities occupy strategic positions within our democratic system, at national, provincial and local level?
- How do we ensure the involvement of the institution in government programmes and allow it to contribute towards job creation and the improvement of the quality of life of the majority of our people?
- How do we ensure that our democratic system operates efficiently and recognises the existence of the traditional system of governance?
- How do we build a symbiotic relationship between the two systems of governance?
- How do traditional institutions give expression to the democratic ethos and practice of our country and the development of our children and youth as leaders of tomorrow?
As the President has said, “the answers to these critical questions will define the relevance of the institution of traditional leadership and communities in the current social, political and economic environment”.
Chairperson,
There is an emerging but unpopular sentiment that the ANC government should not be spending a lot of money on traditional leadership.
We are resolute that the traditional leadership has got a critical role to play in the socio-economic development of the country and must therefore be supported. We are not apologetic about the support we are giving to you and will do more for you succeed in your work.
If the resistance battles waged by the warrior Kings such as Sekhukhune, Makhado and Ngungunyane are anything to go by, the ruling party itself owes its existence to the gallant efforts and sacrifices of traditional leadership.
In the same vein it was the ANC, through it’s the United Democratic Front that formed CONTRALESA in the late 1980’s. We are convinced then about the important role you should play, as we are today.
Chairperson,
Over the past twenty one years of freedom in our country, successive administrations were hard at work in an effort to build working relations with the institution of traditional leadership.
Together we have recorded milestone achievements in respect of legislation and systems we have put in place.
The existence of this very House at all three spheres of government, the promulgation of Traditional Leadership Governance and Framework Act, the appointment of support staff in Traditional Authority offices and the envisaged Traditional Council are in themselves the evidence of the success of our partnership.
President Jacob Zuma has also commended us, that, “Limpopo has some lessons and best practices on partnerships and Intergovernmental Relations that can be implemented in other provinces”.
Nevertheless Chairperson of the Houses, we have come to the opening of this august House, conscious of the many challenges that still require our collective attention and action.
The establishment of traditional councils as directed by the Act is obviously long overdue. The resolution of all outstanding matters related to the tools of trade for traditional leaders, the construction of decent offices, let alone outstanding leadership disputes and claims cannot be overemphasised.
In is in this context that the House is called upon to help government to move with the necessary speed towards the finalisations of these matters.
Chairperson,
A chilly winter season is literally upon us, a season that in the context of our tradition in the province is known also as the Initiation Season. In a month or so, hundreds of parents will surrender their children to your care as traditional leaders so that you can help initiate them into manhood.
This is not just an annual ritual; it is a corner stone of our tradition and cultural practices.
Over the years, we have, as government tried our best to offer support to you as traditional leaders to ensure the dignity of the traditional initiation practice. We have done this because of mushrooming opportunistic elements who have sought to abuse this sacred practice of our people for commercial ends.
Because of this narrow and at times even criminal pursuit for profit, we have in the past lost lives unnecessarily. This is obviously not good for the image of this important practice. There is absolutely no reason, whatsoever, for any person to run an illegal initiation school. Those who are hell-bent on doing things the wrong way are unfortunately doing so at the peril of our culture.
We should obviously not allow them to continue with their self- serving and criminal acts. We should stand up for our culture which is our heritage. No one should be allowed to spoil this noble cultural practice of our people.
I must however, commend the able leadership you have demonstrated over the years. Despite diversity in customs and practices, you have done very well minimising and avoiding deaths at our initiation schools. Last year alone we recorded two of such deaths. We will be happy to record no such death this year, because one life lost is one too many.
And for this to happen, you must accept the challenge to ensure that all initiation schools in your jurisdictions are properly approved and run in accordance with the mutually agreed guidelines and the law. If we do not do this, we will be auctioning our culture to the altar of Western practices.
The process of amending the Northern Province Circumcision Schools Act of 1996 is almost complete, and it is our firm belief that this will go a long way towards identifying and closing the gaps that were there in the implementation of the current Act.
Chairperson,
Beyond the preservation and advancement of their culture and traditions, our people look up to you for the economic development of their communities. Those communities that are still without drinking water, electricity, proper roads and decent sanitation look up to you to work together with local authorities to ensure that these services are provided.
The communities that still yearn for infrastructure development necessary to unlock economic opportunities rely on you to work with local government to ensure that such a development takes place, particularly the land based development.
On this one, I should stress that I am not canvassing for the sale of communal land to the so-called investors. The ideal approach is that of long term lease so that you are not tempted to sell the land you administer on behalf of your people. Nevertheless, where the need arises, make the land available for development to take place. In that case an option of selling land could be considered.
The truth is that with infrastructure investments such as development of township in rural areas, shopping malls, filling stations, road constructions and many such activities, our people are able to find jobs and other economic opportunities for their livelihoods.
It is in this context that you should be seen working for development and not to be mistaken to be working against development of your communities. At the same time, you are not expected to merely be on the sideline of development in your communities, you must lead and direct such a development.
As I said earlier on, the democratic government has put in place sufficient legislative framework to ensure better working relation between municipalities and traditional councils on matters related to rural development. Let us explore these mechanisms for the benefit of our people.
Chairperson,
The other thing that continues to undermine the dignity and integrity of the institution of traditional leaders is the issue of endless leadership disputes. We know that most of these disputes originate from the deliberate acts of the former apartheid regime to undermine the institution of traditional leadership.
Tše dingwe ke taba tša bo lenna ga bo nthone. E fela go a makatša ka gore Mokgalabje Mokgoma Matlala o be a fela a re gopotša go re “bogoši go bo gakwe ke sefero, goba ka gabo bjona”.
As the House, your challenge is to deal with whatever dispute in a manner that does not damage the reputation of bogoši.
I have said it many-a-times that it is not desirable to have matters of traditional leadership adjudicated upon by commoners in a mechanical legalistic fashion.
Ke fela ke re ge le palelwa, ke ra lena bakgoma le bakgomana, bitšang Dikgadi di tla le thuša go rarolla ditaba tše.
Speaking as we do, there are still some cases that are before the Kgatla Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims.
The Commission has thus far managed to complete 174 of the 522 disputes referred to it.
The expectation is that the Commission should be done with its work by the end of this year.
We therefore, urge you to work with the commission to ensure that this deadline is met.
Chairperson,
As I have said, we are committed to restoring the dignity of the institution of traditional leadership, because this is the most authentic leadership of our people. It is in this context that that national government has begun assisting traditional institutions with the necessary tools of trade that will enable them to provide services to the communities.
We have rolled out a medical aid benefit for traditional leaders with effect from October 2014. As I did during the State of the Province Address, I wish to urge those of you who have not yet taken advantage of this positive development. We simply cannot imagine the indignity of a Chief without proper medical care whenever such a need arises.
As I said during the State of the Province Address, Limpopo provincial government will purchase vehicles for traditional leaders over the next medium term period. The two MECs of CoGHSTA and Provincial Treasury, in consultation with the House of Traditional Leaders are working out a mechanism in terms of which these vehicles will be allocated to you.
You should also be happy to note that the National Traditional Affairs Bill is being processed to address the thorny issue of disparities in the treatment of traditional leaders.
Chairperson and members of the House,
Let me also take this opportunity to clarify once and for all, the issue that is in the media about the money being returned to the National Treasury.
Over the past four years the province has been under administration on account of the collapse of cooperate governance in the province. At the time the province had accumulated an unauthorised expenditure of R2,7 billion, and an overdraft of R1,7 billion. Limpopo provincial government was running out of cash and was likely to fail to pay its employees, as well as honouring the payments of suppliers and providers of goods and services rendered.
The issue of the late appointment of contractors for the houses and the diversion of money by the National Department of Human Settlement should, therefore, not be viewed in isolation.
We were still under administration and the very Section 100 (1) (b) Administrators, without our consent, wanted to introduce a pilot project on the procurement of human settlements. Their pilot project could not take off the ground, and to that effect we have agreed with the National Department of Human Settlements that this money should be redirected.
Nevertheless, the units which would not have been completed before the end of the previous financial year, will be added to the 8 500 units targeted for the current financial year. In essence, by the end of the next financial year we would have built 19 000 housing units, for we cannot deprive our people of an opportunity to have a roof over their heads.
Beside all these malicious reports by prophets of doom about the new administration, we are proud to report that Limpopo is a much better place than it was in December 2011.
We have since made significant improvement in the administration and corporate governance of this province. Of particular note, are the financial and management systems that have begun to take shape.
We have also capacitated the Planning Unit in the Office of the Premier to help with meticulous planning, regular monitoring and continuous evaluation of projects in departments.
The unit will also ensure that there is forward planning for all capital infrastructure projects in the departments and municipalities.
Lastly Chairperson,
I hold no doubt that as the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders you will always raise with us as government those issues that affect not only yourselves but your communities. I am confident that you will from now henceforth elevate your voices in various Municipal Councils you sit in for the benefit of the constituencies you represent.
I must also emphasize that this government will always depend on your support, as traditional leaders, in carrying out its mandate and obligations, especially in the rural communities where the majority of our people come from.
We have come this far working together, and united in action, we must do more to accelerate the delivery of services to our people.
I wish you a productive year ahead.
Indlovu ya hina! Ndaa!
Pula!
