Question 15
Mr M Nonkonyana (ANC) to ask the President of the Republic:
What is the government's policy with regard to restoring (a) kingship to those who were recognised as such by the Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims and (b) unity amongst the affected traditional communities?
Reply:
The President accepted the recommendations of the Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims and directed the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to take all steps necessary to ensure implementation.
The Ministry is still finalising the legal processes to continue with the implementation. In an attempt to maintain unity amongst the affected communities, government briefed the National House of Traditional Leaders prior to the release of the Commission’s report.
Furthermore, the Premiers in the affected provinces met with the royal families of the affected kingships of queenships and informed them officially of the outcome and implications.
We also issued a message to all communities to accept the findings in the spirit of nation building and reconciliation, given the pain that the apartheid-imposed institutions had caused on affected families and communities. This should be a period when they all work together to put the past behind them, and accept the historical reality that they have all known for all these decades.
Communities have always known who the rightful traditional leaders are. We appreciate the positive spirit in which this has been received, regardless of how difficult the recommendations are.
