Johnathan Paoli
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has called upon traditional leaders throughout the country, to encourage eligible voters to participate in the upcoming elections and to facilitate a free and fair environment.
In his capacity as the Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team on matters of Traditional and Khoi-San leaders, DP Mashatile delivered a keynote address during a dialogue convened by the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders in Pretoria on Tuesday.
Mashatile urged traditional leaders to do their part in order to guarantee the right of voters within their communities to exercise their democratic right to participate in the country’s elections, a right he said “was hard fought for and must never be taken for granted”.
There has been an increase in violent attacks on traditional leaders and Mashatile has called for cooperation between the government and traditional authorities in stemming the growing tide.
“As an institution located in rural areas, it is important that we collaborate to identify obstacles that are hampering community development, such as the killing of traditional leaders, especially in the province of KwaZulu-Natal,” Mashatile said.
He highlighted the urgent need for the state to expedite its rural development efforts, particularly through the implementation of the InvestRural Master Plan, and said it would enable rural communities to unlock their potential and improve their livelihoods.
Mashatile said land tenure and administration remained contentious issues and that the government would work harder to transfer land ownership to its legitimate owners and sustain rural communities.
He said the government was currently engaged in divesting itself of the communal land it held in trust for communities, and finalising the Draft Communal Land Bill and Policy, with consultations underway to solicit input from various sectors, including traditional leaders.
“We are confident that the Draft Communal Land Rights Bill will facilitate the transfer of government-held communal land to communities. It will also allow for communal land registration and dispute resolution mechanisms,” Mashatile said.
Mashatile also spelled out the need for cooperation between the traditional and state authorities in tackling societal issues such as substance abuse, crime, and gender-based violence.
“GBVF has a negative impact on socio-economic conditions, particularly for women and girls. Therefore ending this scourge is urgent and critical for our nation’s development,” he said.
Mashatile congratulated Thabo Seatlholo on his recent election as the interim chairperson of the Southern Africa Network of Traditional Leaders in Drug Demand Reduction and praised the role traditional leaders play in their communities.
“The establishment of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San leaders serves as evidence of the government’s dedication to recognising and valuing the viewpoints and contributions of our traditional leaders,” the deputy president said.
This comes on the heels of criticism from the House, with Seatlholo previously calling out the government for its lack of political will in addressing pressing issues within especially rural communities.
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