The Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders, Kgosi Pontsho Maubane,

Speaker of the National Assembly, Honourable Max Sisulu,

The Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Honourable Mninwa Mahlangu,

Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP,

Deputy Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr Andries Nel,

The Majesties Kings and Queens present,

The Deputy Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders, Kgoshi Sefogole  Makgeru,

Honourable Members of the National House of Traditional Leaders,

Chairperson of SALGA and local government leadership

Mr Cecil Le Fleur, Chairperson of the National Khoi-San Council and your Councilors,

Chairpersons of Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders,

President of Contralesa, Kgoshi Thobejane and your Executive Committee,

Leaders from business, sports, traditional, religious and all sectors

Members of diplomatic corps, Distinguished guests,

Fellow South Africans,

I greet you all this morning.

Sanibonani, molweni, dumelang, thobela!

I take this opportunity to salute our traditional leaders, the descendants of the great warriors like Soshangane, Shaka ka Senzangakhona, Mzilikazi kaMashobane, Moshoeshoe, Makhado, Hintsa, Ngungunyane, Sekhukhune, Bhambatha kaManzinca and many more great warriors who led our people in combat against colonial forces.

I invoke all these heroes of the wars of decolonization because this year, we are celebrating 20 years of freedom from the yoke of apartheid colonialism.

Traditional leaders have a central place in the history of our country’s liberation struggle.

You will recall that amakhosi were part of the very first executive of the ANC in 1912 in Mangaung at its founding conference.

Some of the traditional leaders who became honorary Presidents were Dalindyebo of the abaThembu, Montsioa of the Barolong, Lewanika of Barotseland which is part of eastern Zambia, Letsie II of Basutoland (now Lesotho) who was elected President, Khama of Bechuanaland (now Botswana) and King Dinizulu of amaZulu.

Given the role of traditional leaders in the genesis of our modern struggle, when this ANC government pays its respects to traditional leaders, we are being true to the history and traditions of the country and the movement.

Our traditional leaders have also participated fully in building the new free democratic society.

Siyababonga kakhulu abaholi bendabuko ngeqhaza abalibambile ekwakheni lelizwe. Mkhulu umehluko. leNingizimu Africa esiphila kuyo isingcono kakhulu ukunale esasiphila kuyo ngesikhathi sobandlululo.

Indeed, our country has changed for the better. South Africa is a much better place to live in than it was before 1994.

Many of our traditional leaders can attest to that fact, having seen improvements in their own areas. In many villages now people have water, electricity and roads.

More of our people have been lifted out of extreme poverty. More people have jobs. We have  expanded social grants to close to 16 million people, primarily orphans and vulnerable children, older persons and persons with disability.

We have further improved access to better education, basic services and health care.

Most importantly, freedom has restored the dignity of Black people, who were treated as pariahs in the land of their own birth.

They now walk tall and with pride.

One of the founding fathers of our freedom, RV Selope Thema summarised the living conditions of black people during the period of apartheid colonialism eloquently in an article dated 25 July 1953;

He said;

“In those days the black man was treated as a beast of burden. He was knocked and kicked about with impunity.

In the magistrate`s courts his voice was hardly heard and his evidence hardly believed.

“He was stopped at street corners by policemen demanding the production of his pass and his tax receipt. He was not allowed to walk on the pavements and had to dodge motor cars in the streets.

“He was not allowed to travel first, second or third class on the trains.

He travelled in trucks almost similar to those used for cattle and horses. …. Politically he had no voice in the making and administration of the laws’’...

The successful struggle for freedom has changed all that. The rights of all South Africans are guaranteed and protected by the Constitution of the Republic.

And that is because of the selfless struggles of thousands of our people, including the heroic struggles of many traditional leaders during various phases of our struggle.

We have indeed achieved a lot as a people. We have a good story to tell about how South Africa has changed since 1994.

Esteemed members,

Last year I requested that we must work closely together to build our country.

That collaboration is bearing fruit.

I will mention just a few programmes.

We appreciate your participation and the advisory role you continue to play in the drafting of Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) of Municipalities.

In this manner, matters that are important to traditional communities find expression in the development plans of municipalities.

We also appreciate the constructive work you do in supporting the criminal justice system to build safer communities.

We welcome the partnership between the South African Police Services and the National House of Traditional Leaders, which is intended to reduce the levels of crime. I am aware that the National House has participated actively in strategies aimed at fighting violence and crime in rural areas.

To mention a few, traditional leaders participated in the development of the Rural Safety Strategy and the draft Community Policing Strategy which will contribute towards the reduction of violence and crime in our society.

We are also happy that traditional leaders are active in the campaign to eradicate violence against women and children. 

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the National Prosecuting Authority and the National House of Traditional Leaders have joined hands and developed the Safety Planning Programme for Victims of Domestic Violence which was launched last year.

This initiative encourages victims to think ahead and plan for their safety so as to escape unharmed from violent attacks.

Government has intensified the campaign and we are very happy that communities cooperate by reporting cases of domestic violence and also the violation of women and children in general.

To ensure swift justice for victims of abuse, government has established 57 regional courts across the country that are dedicated as sexual offences courts, with 22 due for completion by the end of the current financial year.

Together let us build safer communities for women and children, in this era of freedom and democracy.

Chairperson,

We also welcome the relationship of the National House of Traditional Leaders with the Department of Correctional Services on the reintegration of offenders in Society.

This programme is intended to reintroduce into society, those former offenders who have served their time, who wish to be accepted back into their communities.

It is not an easy matter and the guidance and support of traditional leaders is valuable. The reintegration is intended to eradicate crime by ensuring that offenders do not commit crime again.

Esteemed members

Your contribution to the fight against HIV and AIDS is also laudable.

Our country has become a model country in the fight against this scourge because we work together as many sectors to promote treatment, prevent new infections and fight the stigma associated with the disease.

I am told that next month there will be a joint summit of the National House of Traditional Leaders, the South African National Aids Council and the Department of Health, focusing on intensifying the role of Amakhosi on the fight Against HIV and AIDS.

Chairperson, we are aware that to perform most of these tasks traditional leaders require infrastructure.

In this regard, I would like to announce that government will, during this year 2014, begin refurbishing kings councils as well as 78 traditional councils which are located within the 23 identified districts which require special infrastructure intervention across the country.

The refurbishments will be done through the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent and the support will continue up until 2019, the end of the next term of government.

Chairperson

Esteemed members,

I have mentioned only a few areas of collaboration.

There are many other activities in which the National House works with government. We must build on this good story of working together to build our country.

We must continue working together even in the next term of government, as we take South Africa forward.

In the next administration after the elections, we will continue to focus on education, health, creating decent work, the fight against crime and corruption as well as rural development and land reform.

We will work closely with members of this august House in the implementation of programmes in these priority areas.

Rural development, agriculture and land reform are matters that are very close to your hearts. They are important to government as well. This is one priority area that we will need to take forward together.

We appreciate the fact that traditional leaders have joined government to promote farming to our rural population.

Traditional leaders have participated actively in various provinces in the launch of the  agricultural food production programme, the Fetsa Tlala Integrated Food Programme and other related programmes.

The Minister of Finance announced in the Budget Speech yesterday that to boost food production and reduce reliance on imports, the Fetsa Tlala initiative aims to bring an additional one million hectares into cultivation by 2019, creating 300 000 jobs.

Asibakhuthaze abantu balime, bafuye ukuze sixoshe indlala. Uhulumeni uzobasekela abantu ngaloluhlelo olubizwa ngokuthi e-Fetsa Tlala, olwakhelwe ukuxosha indlala ngokugqugquzela ukulima.

On a macro level, Government will continue to comprehensively support the work of farmers, emerging and established farmers. Their contribution to the nation is enormous.

Chairperson,

With regards to land reform, as you requested, we are finding ways of ensuring your participation in the Land Management Commission, the Land Rights Management Board and the Rural Development Agency so as to ensure that you are able to influence decisions for the benefit of rural communities.

We are also continuing with the process of speeding up and improving land reform programmes.

The ANC government has spent about 20 billion rand since May 2009 in acquiring approximately 1.8 million hectares of land for Restitution and Redistribution purposes.

Work continues to acquire more land and to improve the ownership patterns of land in our country, to correct the historical injustice of 1913.

History was made in the National Assembly this week when the Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Bill was passed. The Bill will enable the re-opening of the land restitution process.

The Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Bill sets a new deadline for land claims to 31 December 2018, replacing the previous deadline of 31 December 1998. Therefore many who were excluded by the cut-off date now stand a chance of regaining their land.

Chairperson,

Of concern to many has been the need to support beneficiaries of land reform. Beneficiaries plead that government should not desert them once they obtain land.

It is for this reason that in 2010, government, through the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform introduced the Recapitalization and Development Programme to support those who have been given back their land.

The aim of the Recapitalization and Development Programme is to support black farmers financially so that these can be fully productive.

To date, a total of one thousand three hundred and fifty farms or 1.1 million hectares have been revitalised.  This is ongoing work, and we as government will continue to work with traditional leaders to make the programme succeed further.

Chairperson,

Esteemed members,

We have identified tourism as one of our job drivers in the New Growth Path. It is key to promoting income generating activities even in the smallest rural towns, especially since most small towns have a rich history and heritage.

The institution of traditional leadership is a major role player and contributor to the growth of the cultural tourism industry.

We have a lot to showcase, from cultural events to showing the way of life of various communities.

I am happy that the National House is already formalizing the building of cultural and heritage tourism.

I am informed that the National House of Traditional Leaders has engaged with its sector partners such as the Freedom Park, the Pan South African Languages Board, the South African Heritage Resources Agency, Indoni South Africa, the National Interfaith Council of South Africa, Kara Heritage Institute, the Department of Tourism, Department of Arts and Culture to promote heritage and cultural tourism.

We applaud this proactive move.

The National House has also signed a number of Memoranda of Understanding with these institutions so as to give effect to their partnership and to realize their objectives.

We are moving in the right direction as these activities will boost the rural economy.

People do not have to go to the cities to find work, they can create jobs where they live.

Chairperson

Esteemed members,

It is evident to all that this august house has done a lot of work in promoting social cohesion, creating decent work and cementing the cultural values of our country.

South Africa is indeed a much better place to live in now than it was before 1994. There are more opportunities for all, regardless of where one lives, be it urban or rural areas.

We continue to face challenges but life will also continue to change for the better, as there are clear policies and programmes on the table, designed to build a better life.

On the 7th of May, our people will go to the polls again to elect a government of their choice, and take South Africa forward.

A record of 25 million people have to date registered to vote. This number is much higher than the last election.

This demonstrates that our people appreciate the gains of freedom. They appreciate this right to vote that many paid for with their lives.

When we vote, we will also be celebrating the good story of how we run elections in our country.

We pride ourselves on the fact that this country has run smooth, efficient and credible elections since 1994.

We commend the Independent Electoral Commission for putting our country on the map as one of the success stories in the world with regards to running credible elections.

We encourage all those who are registered, to go out and vote on the 7th of May.

We know that traditional leaders will support the electoral authorities to ensure that everything goes smoothly in various traditional authorities, as they always do.

Esteemed members,

We thank you for the hard work and the collaboration in the past five years.

Let us celebrate our hard won freedom, and make a pledge to take South Africa forward towards a prosperous society.

Fellow South Africans, let me express our shock and sadness at the tragic death of four police officers and a truck driver between Mokopane and Polokwane this morning. The police are still investigating the explosion.

Their families are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Esteemed chairperson,

It is my honour and privilege to declare the National House of Traditional Leaders open.

God Bless Afrika.

I thank you.