Khoisan activists camping at the Union Buildings expressed their dissatisfaction with the South African government on Thursday.
Their leader Chief Khoisan SA told Rekord their patience is running out after camping near the Mandela statue since November last year.
“All we want is an audience with President Cyril Ramaphosa, but to date our plight has gone unheeded,” he said.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Khoisan activists to continue camping at Union Buildings after Cape visit
Chief Khoisan SA said they are not going anywhere until Ramaphosa has addressed them.
Although they have vowed to abstain from voting in the upcoming general elections in May, Chief Khoisan said political parties should form an alliance “to give the ruling party competition”.
“People should also exercise their right by voting for a party of their choice,” he said.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Khoisan activists to discuss way forward
He said they are looking at different strategies to get the President to attend to their needs.
“By end of April we are going to mobilise communities throughout the country to intensify our protest,” he said.
The group, who walked from Port Elizabeth in Eastern Cape, want the government to recognise them as “the first nation of South Africa”, and for their, language Khoe-khoeaab to be made official.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Chief Khoisan SA rejects Traditional Khoisan and Leadership Amendment Bill
Amongst other things they also demand that all land claims be scrapped because “we are the true owners of the land”.
They also want the coloured race category to be removed as an identity.
The group is also worried that winter might come before their demands are met and have asked for blanket donations.
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