Ramaphosa calls for more talks with traditional leaders

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has opened the door to traditional leaders for engagement and urged them to not be shy to raise issues when they felt they were not being adequately consulted.

Speaking during the opening of the National House of Traditional Leaders yesterday, Ramaphosa said they had demonstrated last year they could achieve more by working together.

“When you have a sense that we, as the government, are weakening and faltering in working with you, I urge that you should never tire to raise it,” he said.

Ramaphosa said sometimes things moved fast and there was a tendency to not conclude consultative processes.

His comments were made in the context of unhappiness about consultation in some quarters of traditional leadership when the government banned customary initiation during the festive season.

Ramaphosa said the government’s partnership with traditional leaders was sacrosanct.

“We want to consolidate that, and we want to build a strong relationship with traditional leaders because it is worth everything.

“We have got to have a very respectful, functional and progressive relationship with you and be willing to discuss anything that affects our people,” he said.

However, Ramaphosa said the traditional leaders should be solution-oriented in their engagements.

“Whatever problem we may have, there is a solution lurking in the background. Those are the solutions we must find to advance the interest of our people on whatever issue, be it land, economy or empowerment of women and young people, and get rural areas to be a hive of economic activity.”

He also said gender-based violence remained a massive problem in the country that threatened the health and safety of women and children.

“We note the efforts of traditional leaders to fight this scourge and other harmful cultural practices. This includes the commitment by the National House to work with the men’s sector of the South African National Aids Council to establish men’s parliament in all 882 traditional councils.”

Ramaphosa said the plan was for the men’s parliament to meet quarterly when men and boys could discuss GBV and femicide and the contribution they could make in ending the scourge.

He said the traditional leaders could play an outstanding role in tackling GBV and “point out clearly to all and sundry that the beating of women, rape of women, and killing of women and children is clearly not part of our culture”.

Ramaphosa said the pandemic would continue to exist for some time.

He said it had changed the lives of people and the way they did things.

“It is in this regard that some of the more important economic recovery processes, such as digital revolution, in our country need to be focused on rural areas.”

Ramaphosa also said the government would work with traditional leaders to focus on important issues to improve the lives of people.

“The task of rebuilding our country is an immense one. The partnerships between government, traditional leaders, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders will be key to our success.”

The president thanked the institution for joining the government to fight the pandemic. He undertook to host the Presidential Land Summit that could not be held last year.

“We remain committed to hosting the Presidential Summit on Land, and it is critical that we resuscitate the initial plans to convene provincial engagements beforehand. The institution of traditional leadership must be at the forefront of both land reform and the agrarian revolution.”

Ramaphosa also said the broad consultations agreed to last year on the powers and functions of traditional leaders needed to be conducted.

“We will need to be creative about consultation mechanisms … to ensure we reach all sectors of society.”

He announced that the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act would come into effect in April.

“This is a significant milestone. The country’s Khoi and San leaders will, after following the prescribed processes, for the first time enjoy official recognition and will serve in the National and Provincial Houses in name and right, not as bystanders.”