Ramaphosa acknowledges concerns over traditional leader killings

In the last few months, 33 traditional leaders have been killed, most of them in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA (Contralesa) has made calls for a commission of inquiries into the killings.

Contralesa’s concerns are addressed by Ramaphosa

The president told the Contralesa conference that he would consider the issues that the traditional leaders raised. The conference was held in Boksburg, Gauteng on Saturday, 30 April.

Ramaphosa explained that in February, he met with the leaders of Contralesa. They were able to identify 16 issues that Government needed to address. He explained to the conference that although there had been delays in addressing some issues, he would make sure that matters are dealt with.

Ramaphosa said that traditional leaders requested a probe into the spate of killings.

“They [Contralesa] also raised an important issue that there has been a spate of targeting traditional leaders. In a number of cases, traditional leaders have been killed. They said 33 traditional leaders have lost their lives. They said there was a need to set up a commission to investigate this,”

President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“Nothing will be swept under the carpet” – President

Ramaphosa said that the issues would be attended to and that nothing would be swept under the carpet. He added that traditional leaders play an important leadership role in the country.

“We are going to continue to address all issues you have raised. We will sit down with a great deal of seriousness to address all those issues. Where we are able to find one another we will do,” said Ramaphosa.

The President went on to explain that some of the issues would take time. He shared that a timeline would be set up and the issues would be addressed.

IOL reported that some of the issues raised by the traditional leaders include:

• Disputes,
• Concerns over many traditional councils not being functional,
• Offices are run down and that;
• Land parcels must be transferred to traditional authorities.

Traditional healers to meet Cogta MEC about the killing of leaders in KZN

Traditional leaders from KwaZulu-Natal are meeting with MEC Sipho Hlomuka in Durban. Hlomuka is the provincial Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC.

The leaders are raising concerns about the killings of traditional leaders in the province. Recently, Chief Nkosiyesizwe Prince Msingaphantsi was killed in his home by unknown people. Chief Nkosiyesizwe was from the Mzwelethu Traditional Council.

Before this, Chief Mandlakayise Nxumalo at Nazareth in Ladysmith was murdered at his traditional council offices. Spokesperson for Cogta in KZN Nonala Ndlovu confirmed that MEC Hlomuka is meeting with the traditional leadership. Read the full story here.