Self appointed Traditional Leaders, appointment of Headmen and Headwomen in areas overlapping in the jurisdiction of neighbouring Traditional Leaders, payment of salaries for staff and renovation of offices for Traditional Councils were amongst the critical issues discussed by the MEC, Mr Speed Mashilo and King Makhosoke II of the Ndebele nation. The meeting took place in the King’s offices in Klipfontein and was attended by the Head of Department, Mr Peter Nyoni, Senior Managers and the Executive Mayors of Thembisile Hani and Dr JS Moroka Municipalities.
Mr Mashilo informed the King about the legal action taken by the Department as a measure to stop a man claiming the Chieftaincy status in the Dr JS Moroka Municipality. “This man is sowing confusion in our communities. He went as far as appointing his headmen who allocate stands for people. The legal action is a measure to stop him and to prevent setting of a precedence,” Mr Mashilo explained.
During the meeting, the renovation of offices for traditional councils was raised sharply. One of the senior officials in the King’s palace, expressed concern that offices for the Manala Mbongo Traditional Council were destroyed by the storms late last year and there is a need to renovate them urgently. Mr Mashilo noted the request. “We are in the process of renovating offices as tools of trade. A list has been developed for the offices that must be renovated. However, we cannot renovate all of them at the same time due to limited funds. We will look into the Manala Mbongo request,” Mr Mashilo explained.
The Department has observed with concern that the jurisdiction of some headmen and headwomen overlaps into the jurisdiction of their counterparts. Mr Mashilo told the King the matter is being attended to. “This matter is as a result of boundaries of villages that are not clearly marked. There is a move to redesign the boundaries of areas under the jurisdiction of Amakhosi as a solution for the overlapping areas,” said Mr Mashilo.
King Makhosoke II implored the Department to address all concerns raised during the meeting. He warned that failure to do so will cause Amakhosi and their subjects to loose confidence in the Department’s ability to resolve issues that are raised perpetually.
End.
Issued by Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Contact Person: Mr Vusi Shabangu
Contacts: 013 766 6062
Twitter: @cogtamp