South Africa: Premier Mxolisi Dukwana led the Executive Council in the meeting with the Provincial House of Traditional and Khoi – San leaders in Bloemfontein today, 05 July 2023.
During discussions, the chairperson of the Free State Provincial House of Traditional and Khoi – San leaders, Morena Neo Mopeli, emphasized to the provincial government’s leadership that they want to join forces and work with the government.
By so doing, said Morena Mopeli, both themselves and the government will be able to attend to matters such as alcohol and substance abuse and gender-based violence, particularly in areas under the control of traditional leadership.
Morena Mopeli made an impassioned plea to the Free State Provincial Government for support, stating: “We are faced with a number of challenges. If we have cows, for instance, we can sell them and support bereaved families in need.”
Premier Dukwana announced that the R5,000 monthly stipend to the fifteen royal houses will be increased to R10,000.
“Government and traditional leadership must speak with one voice. We have heard what our traditional leaders say, and those concerns will be addressed. What we need to do is to work together so that we prevail over societal ills that confront us. We must also show respect to our traditional leaders because we tend to show respect to others, even those outside our shores, but fail to show the same courtesy to our traditional leaders,” said Premier Dukwana.
Members of the Executive Council present made pledges to support the provincial House of Traditional and Khoi – San leaders. MEC for Health, Mathabo Leeto, said the department was working hard to ensure that every one of the 319 wards in the province has an ambulance to attend to the plight of the people speedily.
MEC Leeto further said they were contemplating hiring unemployed people to deliver chronic medications to households; that way, patients, particularly the elderly, do not have to wake up early and queue up at hospitals.
MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Limakatso Mahasa announced that her department will build two sports facilities, in Mangaung and Maluti – a – Phofung, respectively. All the other MECs also pledged to work with the traditional leadership to build a better society.