During a sitting of the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders at the Polokwane Council Chamber last Wednesday, Premier Stan Mathabatha indicated that the Provincial Government was working together with Police Minister Bheki Cele to find suitable strategies that would help curb criminality in Limpopo communities.
Traditional leaders met with Mathabatha to draw attention to some of the burning issues they are faced with in their respective communities. These included lack of maintenance on traditional council offices, restructuring of salaries, new vehicles, houses and offices for kings and queens, provision of medical aid and cell phone contracts. One of the attendees pointed out a need for the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders to have its own council chamber while the other suggested that each traditional kraal must have a road grader and water tanker. He further stressed that it was inhuman and not cultural for the Provincial Government to deploy the two aforementioned heavy duty vehicles to a certain village only when there is a funeral.
When responding to issues raised, Mathabatha emphasised that at least R20 million was required to purchase vehicles for 39 traditional leaders and reiterated that the Provincial Government does not have funds for this purpose currently. He further revealed that a plan to build houses and offices for Kings and Queens was at an advanced stage, adding that an amount of R500 million was needed for this exercise.
“The issue of salaries is a tough one but we will be in consultation with the House of Traditional Leaders and the Executive Council (Exco). I have directed the Exco to purchase vehicles at the end of every five years. Looking at our current financial status, it will be a huge mountain to climb if we were to buy road graders and water tankers for each traditional kraal,” Mathabatha explained and indicated that all the issues raised have been noted.
He was unhappy with the fact that royal houses matters are now dealt with in the courts of law as he indicated that this was not cultural. He concluded by urging royal houses to try and find solutions to issues affecting their respective families without going to court.
Story/photos: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
