Ramaphosa calls on traditional leaders to participate in community development

President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged traditional leaders to become more involved in community development.
He was speaking on Saturday at the Congress of Traditional Leaders (Contralesa) 8th National Elective Conference in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.

Contralesa represents traditional leaders and chiefs in the country and seeks to work with the government towards a unified South Africa that draws on the strength of the country’s cultural and traditional diversity.

Traditional leaders have expressed concerns about their salaries, tools of the trade, and what they see as the government’s unfair treatment of some chiefs and kings.

President Ramaphosa assured them that their concerns would be addressed soon and urged them to collaborate with his administration in order to develop the country.

In their last interaction with the President, traditional leaders wanted salaries, not stipends, the disparity in the treatment of traditional leaders with others treated better than others and complained about over 800 traditional councils dysfunctional.

Ramaphosa says his administration is committed to resolving all their concerns.

CONTRALESA 8th Elective Congress: Ramaphosa  

“Land ownership, as agreed at the 2017 Traditional Leadership Indaba, is a critical issue for government to address. Consultations on draft proposals towards communal land tenure are on course, and I have been advised that Contralesa has already been consulted in this regard.” pic.twitter.com/VuQYiwDQdp

— Presidency | South Africa (@PresidencyZA) April 30, 2022