10 JULY 2025, PARLIAMENT, CAPE TOWN

Honourable Speaker

Honorable Members of the Portfolio Committee

Honorable Minister Hlabisa and Deputy Minister Masemola

Officials from the COGTA Portfolio

Fellow South Africans

Thank you, Honorable Speaker, for granting us the opportunity to address this august House on this occasion of the 2025/26 Budget Vote debate of the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

It is indeed my humble privilege to contribute to the tabling of Budget Votes 3 and 15 on Cooperative and Traditional Affairs in the National Assembly.

The devastation of the disaster in Eastern Cape and other provinces

A few weeks ago, some of our provinces experienced devastation due to inclement weather conditions that caused a lot of damage and also led to loss of lives. I would like to echo the words of Honorable Minister Hlabisa to convey my condolences to especially the people of the Eastern Cape who endured the terrible weather conditions and were negatively affected by disastrous floods. As a Ministry, we continue to hold hands with the affected communities and other role players to address the aftermath of this disaster.

Involvement of Traditional Leadership in government decision making processes.

Honorable Speaker, we remain committed to ensuring that the institution of Traditional and Khoi-san is involved in statutory processes of governance. In this regard, Section 39 ( 1 ) of the Traditional and Khoi-san Leadership Act provides for certain Bills to be sent to the National House of Traditional and Khoi-san Leadership House for comments before they can be passed by Parliament. In the spirit of cooperative governance, organs of state also consult with the National House on their own draft policies and proposed pieces of legislation. In the financial year 2024/25, the National House provided inputs on eighteen (18) draft policies and pieces of legislation, including the Draft Customary Initiation Regulations, the Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority Bill, the Public Procurement Bill,  and the Marriages Bill, among others.

Furthermore, following inputs that have been received from the National House regarding the participation of traditional leaders in municipal governance, we have started the process to ensure that the necessary amendments can be effected on Section 81 of the Municipal Structures Act which specifically deals with this matter.

Traditional Leaders support programmes:

The institution of Traditional leadership require enabling resources for the effective and efficient discharging of their responsibilities. In this regard, we are pleased the COGTA MINMEC has endorsed the Handbook of Tools of Trade for Traditional Leadership for phased implementation subject to the finalization of consultations with provinces on the cost implications. In the 2025/2026 fiscal year, our focus will be on finalising the official consultations with the Premiers to open the way for actual implementation.

Interventions to address Customary Initiation Challenges

Honourable Chairperson, with the winter initiation season upon us, we continue to work with all relevant stakeholders to raise awareness in our communities and minimize casualties. Over the last few weeks I have been on the ground in the Eastern Cape as part of our ongoing monitoring of initiation plans and practices.. This builds on the work we have been doing during the previous financial year.

Provincial Governments have been requested to adequately resource the PICCs to be able to conduct inspections and monitoring of initiation schools and to support Traditional Leaders to take ownership of the practice to address challenges within their areas of jurisdiction. Despite some of the casualties that are already reported in the current season, we will remain resolute in our efforts to address these challenges

Calls have also been made to COGTA Ministry for the amendment of the Customary Initiation Act to strengthen the powers of NIOC, PICCs and roles of traditional leaders in dealing with the challenges of customary initiation schools, and to close the gaps identified in the Act in the past four years of implementation. During the 2025/2026 fiscal year, we will be consulting with stakeholders for submission of their proposed amendments to the Customary Initiation Act.

Addressing Disputes in traditional leadership

Honorable members, we remain worried about the rising trend of traditional leadership disputes in our communities. We have previously conveyed our commitment to encouraging the development of genealogies and customary laws of succession. We have therefore developed guidelines to assist royal families with the documentation of customary laws of succession and genealogies. In addition, the Department has a project to and support royal families for kingships/queenships to document their customary laws of succession and genealogies.

Training and capacity building

Honourable Chairperson, capacity building of traditional leaders continues to be a key project for the department. In the previous financial year, traditional leaders were capacitated in the following: disaster management, Gender Based-Violence and Femicide, and the Customary Initiation Act (CIA). We will continue with this work during this new financial year.

Lenaka Project

We also join forces with the House in their endeavors to learn from previous heroes and heroines through their project called Lenaka. This project aims to facilitate memorial lectures and encourage young people to know about the contributions of the heroes and heroines of yesteryear. This year Lenaka will be held in Northern Cape to honour amakhosi who fearlessly participated in the Langerberg rebellion of 1897.

Social Labour Plans’ (SLP’s) Socio-Economic Development

As part of our commitment to promoting development in rural communities, the Department has continued to play a role in monitoring the implementation of Social and Labour Plan (SLP) projects, in collaboration with the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.

Through site visits, stakeholder engagements, and support, we have worked to enhance accountability, improve alignment with community priorities, and most importantly, we have also advocated for greater involvement of Traditional Councils in the planning and implementation phases of SLP.. We believe that this collaborative approach will contribute to improved access to infrastructure, skills development, and enterprise opportunities.

Traditional leadership summit on the Eastern Seaboard Development Initiative

As part of the implementation of the District Development Model, a summit was held with amakhosi in the Eastern Seaboard region to discuss development opportunities in traditional communities. We will continue with consultation processes with traditional leaders, allowing them the opportunity to identify areas for investment and development purposes.

Honourable Chairperson, I hereby join the Minister to call upon this House to support budget vote 15 of the Department of Traditional Affairs.

I thank you