12 March 2009
Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders, Khosi FP Kutama;/ Deputy Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders, Kgosi PP Maubane;/ Your Majesties and Royal Highnesses;/ Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly, Gwendoline Mahlangu-Nkabinde/ Mayor of the City of Tshwane, Gwen Ramokgopha/ Chairpersons and Deputy Chairpersons of provincial houses of traditional leaders;/ Traditional leaders here present;/ Minister of Provincial and Local Government, Mr. Sicelo Shiceka and other Minister present;/ Deputy Minister of Provincial and Local Government, Ms Nomatyala Hangana, and other Deputy Ministers present;/ Our Leaders and members of Parliament;/ Religious Leaders;/ Senior Government Officials;/ Distinguished guests;/ Ladies and Gentlemen:
Let me thank you most sincerely for the issues you have raised through this esteemed house.
I must equally thank the National House of Traditional Leadership (NHTL) for the weighty issues raised in this regard, as presented by Inkosi Mpiyezintombi Mzimela, Kgoshigadi MRM Mothapo, Inkosi VJ Nhlapho, and Inkosi MG Gwadiso.
This manner of engagement is vital in that it improves our collaboration in dealing with various challenges facing our country and our people.
Chairperson,
The role and place of the National House of Traditional Leaders should continue to draw strength from our system of democracy in which traditional leadership is not a poor cousin but a vital aspect of our constitution.
As government we have never lost sight of this fact as borne out by steps we have taken over time to support and buildadership.
As one of the examples in this regard, Parliament is currently working on the Traditional Courts Bill, which, when finalised, will deal with designated cases, and also administer restorative justice and thus lessen the burden on our courts.
In addition, Parliament is close to completing legislation to alter the traditional pattern of succession and inheritance, so that we empower even women and children, who have historically been disadvantaged by our traditional system.
A careful look at the scope of functions of traditional leaders will confirm that we have made significant progress in this House since its inception.
In truth much work still needs to be done to ensure that, working together, we overcome all the challenges we are faced with as well as decisively address all the difficulties besetting traditional leadership and the communities under their jurisdiction.
Chairperson
Part of what was noted in this engagement today was a proposal for the review of the role of traditional leaders.
Various laws, as you know, have been passed to give effect to our constitution, such as the Traditional Leadership Governance and Framework Act of 2003, and the Communal Land Rights Act of 2004.
There are already various steps towards addressing some of the outstanding matters on the issue of Traditional Lethis regard. Accordingly, we are working on the important matter of the Department of Traditional Leadership, which I am certain will be completed in due course.
Regarding the Traditional Courts Bill, our honourable members will remember that this draft should benefit from the opinions of all stakeholders, including women interest groups.
The draft is still with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee and should be finalised after the general election.
The same applies to the Khoisan issues. The Draft White Paper, as we know, is complete and has to be debated by the cabinet first, and be followed up by extensive consultation in these matters. Hopefully, this will crystallize in the new department.
Traditional leaders remain key stakeholders in the successful implementation of government programmes in rural areas.
In this regard, your role in the development and growth of the rural areas of our country is constantly amplified through various legislative means government is putting in place.
We are in the process of dealing with various policy and legislations to enhance this role and your inputs have and will always be highly valued.
We commend your observations regarding the rural-urban drift of our people and the resultant strain exerted on the planning processes of the municipalities due to this migration to the urban areas.
The development of women and youth in the rural areas must be a high priority if we are to succeed in rescuing the millions of unemployed young people from poverty.
As part of the response to challenges facing young people, the National Youth Commission and Umsobomvu Youth Fund will be merged to establish the National Youth Development Agency.
The agency will interact with various stakeholders, including government and the traditional leaders, on issues and plans for youth development across all levels.
This means that our programmes from national to local level, such as the Expanded Public Works Programme, will have elements of youth development.
It is for this reason that we appeal to amakhosi, to create awareness about government's community development initiatives to ensure that ordinary people participate in those programmes.
In this regard, we are also encouraged by your participation in the Integrated Development Planning (IDP) in various municipalities to ensure that you influence the direction of development projects in areas under your jurisdiction.
Chairperson,
In addition to all these, we continue to devise means to ensure universal access to education by all our people, especially rural women and youth.
Access to education by all our children is one of the primary objectives through which we seek to contribute to the eradication of illiteracy, in particular, rural areas.
In particular, broadening access should also be reflected in increased numbers of rural students enrolling and pursuing their studies in institutions of higher learning.
For this reason, we have to ensure that the National Students Financial Aid Scheme is able to cater to the needy students. I must mention that the Minister of Education said that an amount of R600 million has been added to the fund through the re-payment of loans by past recipients who had already graduated.
Therefore, we would like to make a request to amakhosi to assist us in raising awareness of communities, especially the young people in your localities, about the existence of this fund and its objectives.
I note that one of the issues raised in this house today pertains to the need for the establishment of institutions of higher learning in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape respectively.
We have already established the National Institutes for Higher Education in each of these provinces.
These institutes facilitate the coherent provision of higher education by serving as administrative hubs for higher education institutions already operating in the two provinces.
In the Northern Cape, the National Institute for Higher Education has partnered with the University of South Africa (UNISA), the University of Free State, the Central University of Technology and the Vaal University of Technology.
Between 2007 and 2009, about 4 500 students have enrolled for various programmes in the fields of engineering, commerce, tourism, human resource management, public management and education.
In Mpumalanga, the institute is working with renowned institutions of UNISA, Tshwane University of Technology, University of Pretoria and the Vaal University of Technology.
This institute offers studies in engineering, economics, management sciences, humanities as well as information and communication technology.
I am certain that the presence of these institutions in both these provinces will go a long way in increasing access to higher education for rural communities in those areas.
Chairperson,
In conclusion, I have noted that the House needs its own Chamber. This matter was raised a while ago with the Department of Public Works and should be followed up to ensure that we finalise it as soon as is practically possible.
I have been inspired by the nature of our co-operation throughout this last term of government.
Even though some the issued raised here today are ongoing, I'm confident that they will be resolved even beyond the general elections.
I am equally certain that, based on this collaboration, the new government will take the issue of Traditional Leadership to a qualitatively higher level.
Indeed it cannot be otherwise, for at the core of all our efforts is the need to improve the lives of all our people.
I thank you.