Address by the Premier of the Northern Cape, Ms Sylvia Lucas on the occasion of the inauguration of the Traditional Chief – Kgosi KS Motshwarakgole, 21 June 2014, JTG
Programme Director
Royal House of Traditional Leaders
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
We are extremely grateful as the Northern Cape government to actively participate in the inauguration of Kgosi KS Motshwarakgole. We wish to extend our hearty congratulations to the Chief and his family for the honour that is bestowed on them to serve the community.
The swearing in of a Chief is a particularly special occasion.
In the past, the apartheid regime sought constantly to undermine traditional authority and to separate the leaders from their own people, and they did sometimes succeed. However true leaders managed to redirect their energies towards the advancement and development of their own people.
Our government values the vital role that traditional leaders play in the promotion of the wellbeing and progress of our communities. Our traditional leaders are responsible for the promotion of cultures, customs, traditions and values
Democracy has brought in a new dimension for traditional leaders. Government has demonstrated its faith in traditional leaders and acknowledged the role they can play in building our nation. New national and provincial houses of traditional leaders allow them to help determine provincial and national policy. Together we are seeking the best way for traditional leaders to play a role in local government.
We always appreciate this interaction with our traditional leaders as it not only strengthen co-operation between the Provincial Government and Traditional Authorities but also reaffirms our commitment to the role of Dikgosi in consolidating our democratic governance especially at a local government level.
I believe it was through this unwavering support to government and unstinting commitment to your people that you were able to achieve so much in such a short period.
Together with local government structures our traditional leaders must identify economic development opportunities to ensure that we create jobs and empower our rural communities. We must jointly embark on tangible opportunities to ensure that we empower our women and allow them to be an integral part of the socio economic development of our Province.
As leaders in our communities, we urge you to speak out against societal challenges such as crime, teenage pregnancies as well as alcohol and drug abuse.
As true leaders of our community we also need to speak out against the violation of the rights of our children by certain people who prevent them from going to school. No right thinking person can deprive our children the right to attend school and gain a valuable opportunity to become a respectable person in life.
It is crucial that the House of Traditional Leaders should be actively involved in the protection and promotion of our democracy. Traditional Leaders should be actively and directly involved in all activities that are aimed at pushing back the frontiers of poverty. As leaders you must lead your communities.
Like eagles you are expected to soar high into the sky in search for that which will sustain your people.
That is why I am pleased to see a number of traditional leaders engage in partnerships with the private sector in providing jobs and development in their communities.
As leaders you must be responsive to the needs of your communities. These include the welfare and safety of your people – all your people.
The rape and abuse of toddlers and young children is something we should fight with all the power at our disposal. As traditional leaders you are well positioned to ensure that you fight this tendency. We must bring back UBUNTU.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we must form partnerships with the law enforcement agencies in our country. We must actively and directly participate in crime prevention through recruiting reservist who will be stationed at the various tribal authorities and apprehend this hooligans.
Programme Director, unless we do that the dream of a Northern Cape that promises an end to poverty, disease, hunger, crime and environmental degradation – will be stillborn.
I congratulate you Chief KS MOTSHWARAKGOLE on your official assumption of your responsibilities. As government, we will monitor with interest how you and other traditional leaders work towards taking our people to the next level.
To the extent that your leadership helps improve the lives of the people, to the extent that it fosters the best of African culture and tradition, and above all to the extent that it fosters unity and peace amongst the people.
May you enjoy good life and good relationship with your people and that of South Africa at large.
We thank you once again for inviting us to be part of this important occasion to celebrate the inauguration of the Chief.
I thank you
Ke a leboga