Going back to the roots

Principal chief Godfrey Fanie held the annual Zalisidinga African Traditional Council (ZATC) conference at 231 Chitembo Street, Extension 28, Vosloorus, on March 13.

The chief told Kathorus MAIL the purpose of the conference is to unite and revive all the royal traditional leaders and traditional communities in the urban areas and retrun to their roots.

The conference also aimed at reflecting on the goals set out and discussed during the 2020 ZATC conference and report back to the public.

ZATC invited all kingdoms, chieftaincy, business sector, stakeholders and dignitaries.

The invite to kingdoms and chieftaincy aimed to unite all kingdoms and to work together to revive heritage, culture, customs, heritage and traditions, to develop the nations and communities and to restore the dignity of an African.

The business sector looked to build a working relationship to ensure there is fair competition to fight criminal elements so that the business sector trade freely and stakeholders to work together for the establishment of projects, to bring stability in the community, to do awareness and minimise the killing of women and children.

Principal chief SG Fanie said the conference of royal has to change the mindset of the people because people perceive that traditional leaders are only in the rural area, not the township. The communities only know the municipality and councillors as being the true leaders, he added.

That is why the royal traditional leaders are establishing the Royal House in urban areas to assist people with problems like custom, inheritance, family feud and customary marriage, as well as to develop the community and create jobs to bring back ubuntu.

“We have a year plan that indicates other events like heritage, the celebration of coronation and the closing event.

“Kingship is a blood lineage and traditional leaders can practice in any nation under the kings of that nation,” said chief Fanie.

Who was part of the event?

The annual conference saw support from king Mthimkhulu from the Amahlubi Kingdom, king Lehasa Moloi from Bakholokoe Bamafetla, chief Rambau from Mutavhatshindi Traditional Council, chief Sokesimbone Kubheka from Makgololwe a Mafehleng, as well as Black Farmers Association of SA (BFASA), Kingdom Blue and residents.

The kings and chiefs had a moment of silence to honour the late king of the Zulu nation, king Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu.

King Lehasa Moloi said it is vital for Africans to write their own narrative because the history written by others about black people will never be a true reflection of who black people are.

If you look at the history of Africa, every ruling king had a mother and that is where the king sought his first advice and council; that is the role woman played in the true Africa, he added.

“The killing of women is not an African concept. Today they make it seem like the abuse of women is African, and it was never African.

“But today we kill them, even our boys kill them, they have no shame in raping their grandmothers. We are a sick nation because the leaders have forgotten why they were called,” Moloi.

The goals achieved by ZATC in 2020

Chief Fanie told Kathorus MAIL their duty as kings is to ensure people in communities get job opportunities.
The ZATC has managed to create jobs for the youth, the council employed stuff at the three local clinics, including Eden Park Clinic, Ramokonopi Clinic and Sunrise Clinic.

The Royalty established two broadcasting media houses. Royal Traditional Media, which focuses on news of the royal families and Masibuyele Ekhaya broadcasting for the community at large, focusing on broadcasting challenges in the community and to afford relevant people an opportunity to intervene.

Developments on outstanding goals

“We have not accomplished everything yet because we have many things on our list, for example, we also have a food parcel programme and we negotiate with the business sector about job creation and supporting the royal house by working together and sharing information.

“Because some businesses are also affected by crimes like hijacking, we appreciate that some businesses are catching up to speed. So it is our vision now to ensure businessmen and women understand the concept of a royal house so that we can come work together. We aim to minimise crime and poverty in our nations,” said chief Fanie.

ZATC has initiated different sector forums for men, women and young adults led by the youth as part of the strategy to fight gender-based violence.

The role of BFASA

• The organisation works hand in hand with all the kingdoms and chieftaincy.
• BFASA is working on the upliftment of kingdoms in agriculture.
• BFASA is in the campaign of securing the dagga licensing to African people.
• BFASA is working nationwide.
• BFASA will host a march to SAPHRA offices in Pretoria on April 22; the organisation asked for support of the day.