By Kopano Dibakwane &Lwazi Raul-Shongwe
Mpumalanga Premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, has highlighted full commitment by the provincial government to promote development and service delivery in areas under the jurisdiction of traditional leaders.
Delivering her keynote address during the official opening of the House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders in the Provincial Legislature, Mtsweni-Tsipane said an additional R20 million will be allocated during the adjustment period, which will take the overall budget to R40 million, in an attempt to enhance the day-to-day operations and functionality of the Provincial House.
According to Mtsweni-Tsipane, rural development linked to land reform is one of the priorities by government in addressing underdevelopment and poverty challenges in rural communities.
She said that some of the capacity building programmes include; ethical leadership and management, land use management and anti-la’d invasion techniques, local economic development and investment traction, rolling out capacity building workshops on the Traditional Courts Act in collaboration with the Department of Justice, Agrarian and farming skills.
Not only on developments under amakhosj but the premier also touched on the impact of Gender-Based-Violence and Femicide in communities, in which South Africa is rated as the 130th country amongst 163 where safety and security is under threat.
Other factors that were noted during her address included; decent working environment for Traditional Leaders, filling of vacancies regarding Traditional Leaders, filling of Headmen/women positions, administration of grants and cultural grants, provision of new vehicles, reconstitution of Traditional Leaders, integrated and coordinated work with government as a whole, participation of Traditional Leaders in municipal affairs, implementation of the agrarian revolution, the Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee(PICC), mining in rural communities.
“ One of the key milestones of the chapter that we are closing is the recognition and empowerment of the institution of Traditional and Khoi-San leadership in line with Chapter 12 of the Constitution of the Republiç, and in further deepening our democracy by ensuring that it functions in full to achieve its constitutional mandate. We will never opt for shortcuts in our support, instead, we remain committed to walking with you until the end of every project and every programme,” Mtshweni-Tsipane concluded.
The event was led by Chairperson of the House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Kgoshi Lameck Mokoena, other dignitaries included MEC for Corporate Governance and Traditional Affairs(COGTA), Mandla Msibi, Traditional Leaders from various communities, senior officials of the Provincial Government, to name but a few.
