By Kopano Dibakwane
Mpumalanga premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, addressed the house of traditional and Khoi-San leaders on 19 April at the Mpumalanga provincial legislature. The dignitaries present were, chairperson of the house of traditional and Khoi-San leaders – Kgoshi Lameck Mokoena, chairperson of the the national house of traditional leaders – Kgoshi Milton Seatlholo Rapulana, MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs – Mandla Msibi, to name but a few.
In her opening remarks, Mtshweni-Tsipane asked the house to observe a moment of silence in honour of the late chief Clyde Mnisi and his wife Charlene Matthews, who were brutally murdered by unknown assailants in March this year. The premier also congratulated the newly elected executive members of the house and the re-election of the chairperson, in marking the sixth term of the house.
Mtshweni-Tsipane’s address touched on pertinent issues affecting traditional councils across the province such as, socio-economic challenges, improvement of resources or tools of trade, adminstration of grants, public private partnerships, land invasion, regulation of initiation schools, to name but a few.
She said that communities in the jurisdiction of amakhosi bear the brunt of the tripple effects of poverty, unemployment and inequality, therefore, citing the Mpumalanga economic reconstruction and recovery plan as one of the initiatives the province is implementing to give effect to the job massification programme by; rolling out infrastructure programmes, green economy initiatives, industrialisation through localisation, employment stimulus, tourism, agriculture/agro processing, amongst others.
In addition, Mtshweni-Tsipane mentioned that parks will be rejuvenated in order to uplift surrounding communities. Another issue raised during her address was the finalisation of the Just Transition Plan, stating that the province must reap the fruits of the country’s energy transition.
She said that six royal families were issued with certificates of recognition, while also mentioning the commitment by the province to construct 22 traditional council offices and the renovation of 18 council houses.
The premier’s address also revealed that R153 million will be set aside to benefit Amakhosi in 2023.
” This includes, setting aside R80 million to aid Amakhosi. R23 million has been set aside in this financial year for the disbursement of grants to traditional councils. This will increase to R24 million in 2024/2025 financial year and R25 million in the 2025/2026 financial year,” she said.
The prevalence of illegal initiation schools was also highlighted as a major problem, as it leads to the deaths of many initiates. Mtshweni-Tsipane said that the PICC(provincial initiation coordination committee) will deal with regulation of this traditional practice by closure of illegal initiation schools. She also cautioned against land invasion as it leads to unemployment and inequality in communities.
” Our assessment has proven that Amakhosi/Magoshi have been assertive in championing the aspirations of communities in rural areas, on socio-economic development initiatives. Your imprint in development and service delivery initiatives is evident in this regard,” said Mtshweni-Tsipane.
The house chairperson Kgoshi Lameck Mokoena expressed concern regarding the rampant and unresolved killing of Amakhosi.
” It is sad that we are losing Amakhosi in this fashion. Hosi Mnisi is the 45th Inkosi to be gunned down. I’m happy that we’ve raised this matter with the minister of police, Bheki Cele,to say that let them leave no stone unturned in making sure that all perpetrators are arrested. The unfortunate part is that 45 Amakhosi were killed, with not even one single arrest,” said Kgoshi Mokoena.
