House of Traditional Leaders set to open

The third session of the fifth Free State House of Traditional Leaders is set to open next Thursday at the provincial legislature at 11am.

Premier Ace Magashule is expected to address the house on the auspicious occasion where he will give a clear outline of the functions of government and its relationship with the House of Traditional Leaders.

In a statement the spokesperson for the cooperative governance and traditional affairs department, Senne Bogatsu, said the premier, in his opening address, will specify in detail the work of the House and Traditional Leaders and the provincial government to ensure that their work was well coordinated in order to meet the needs of different communities.

Magashule is expected to highlight the work done in the province to date in promoting collaboration between the provincial government and the local House of Traditional Leaders.

He will outline the overall contribution of the traditional leadership in support of government’s priorities in order to ensure that rural communities in the province equally enjoyed the fruits of democracy.
Houses of Traditional Leaders have been established at national level and in some provinces to play an advisory role in government.

There are at least six Houses in the country in the Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West provinces.
The National House advises the national government on the role of traditional leaders and on customary law.

It may also conduct its own investigations and advise the president on request.

Each provincial House nominates three members to the National House of Traditional Leaders, which elects its own office-bearers.

When he opened the National House of Traditional Leaders earlier this year, President Jacob Zuma said the government would continue promoting the institution of traditional leadership in the country, particularly on matters aimed at improving the legislative framework.
“For example, we will introduce the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership and Governance Bill this year. Currently, there is no legislation recognising the Khoi and San and there are gaps in the existing legislation on traditional leadership,” said Zuma.