SPEECH BY PREMIER
His Excellency
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen.
Let me take this opportunity to thank the Royal House and the people of the Ndzundza-Mabhoko tribe most humbly for having invited us to this occasion
As we gather here today to honour a proud descendent of King Nyabela and Mabhoko, we do so in the full knowledge that we have to reclaim our culture, rewrite our history and produce in it the heroes that formed the core of our resistance to the white invaders.
More has to be revealed, and stress has to be laid on the successful nation-building attempts of men such as Kings Nyabela, Shaka, Moshoeshoe and Hintsa.
As we gather here to install a descendant of a great visionary, a great leader, a military strategist, a nation-builder – the great King Nyabela - we do so under the full knowledge that we are a different people.
Early this year, I was approached by the Ingwenyama of the Ndzundza Mabhoko Royal Family – Ingwenyama Mayitjha III – to appoint Prince James Senzangakhona Mahlangu as Inkosi of Mdutjana.
This was done without defining the area concerned or even establishing the new Tribal Authority. That would have meant that the Ndzundza Mabhoko would have had two leaders – the Ingwenyama and the Inkosi in the same area.
According to the lawyers in the Office of the Premier and according to the advice I got from other people I consulted, this would have been irregular and unlawful.
Consequently, I could not issue a certificate to Prince James at the customary occasion held at the Ndzundza Mabhoko Royal Kraal recently. I communicated the legal opinion on which I based my opinion not to issue the certificate to Ingwenyama Mayitjha III.
In August this year Ingwenyama Mayitjha III again wrote to me requesting me to establish a new tribe to be called the Ndzundza Mabusa Tribe.
The traditional authority would be called the Ndzundza Mabusa Tribal Authority, which would have jurisdiction in the following areas:
- Klipplaatdrift (Matshiding and Marotholong)
- Waterval and KwaMagula
I was further requested to appoint Prince James Senzangakhona Mahlangu as the Inkosi of the new tribe. After consulting with the House of Traditional Leaders in the Legislature, I decided to accede to the request by the Ingwenyama and the family and council of the Ndzundza Mabhoko Royal Kraal.
I have subsequently gazetted the area of the new tribe and the new tribal authority Ndzundza Mabusa in Government Gazette number 773 of the 28 th of September 2001.
I have also decided to appoint Prince James Senzangakhona Mahlangu as requested as the Inkosi of the new tribe – Ndzundza Mabusa with effect from the 3 rd of October 2001.
I am here today to hand over the certificate of the new Inkosi in public and in the presence of the residents of the aforementioned areas.
It is my now my pleasure to hand over the appointment certificate of Prince James Senzangakhona Mahlangu as Inkosi of the Ndzundza Mabusa.
Let me hasten to mention that Prince James Senzangakhona Mahlangu is not appointed as Ingwenyama as is rumoured, but is appointed as Inkosi under Ingwenyama Mayitjha III.
The Ndzundza Mabhoko Authority will exercise its authority only in the areas remaining, which are not affected by the announcement. Let the two authorities work in harmony and co-operate with one another. Avoid unnecessary and uncalled for conflict.
Allow me to plead with Ubabethu Ingwenyama Mayitjha III - who exercises authority over all the authorities of the Amandzundza - to live in harmony with the leadership of the new authority.
To the new Inkosi of the Ndzundza Mabusa Tribe, please act in dignity and respect the authority of Ingwenyama Mayitjha III. Let me take this opportunity to call upon both authorities to adjust their functions to conform to the new democracy and to work towards improving the lives of their people.
No-one will ever question a Traditional Authority which works towards the alleviation of poverty , fights oppression and discrimination - including gender discrimination.
As a Traditional Authority take care of the education of your subjects by encouraging parents and children to prioritise education. Strive to raise the economic development of your people.
As government, in partnership with the traditional leaders and the people, gone a long way in improving the lives of the people. We have spent more than R9,2 million in providing water to the people in this area.
On bulk water supply alone we spent more than R3,7 million in the Zamekomst/Bloedfontein area. Over R1,4 million in the Ramaphosa village, well over R1,2 million at Phake and more than R900 000 in the Witfontein/Tweefontein area.
In the Leeukuil area we have spent over R700 000 for water provision. Before March next year we spend more than R1,2 million in the Leeufontein and Siyabuswa area improving bulk water supply.
We have spent more than R4 million in improving roads in the Siyabuswa and Mathanjana areas. In Siyabuswa we are involved in job creation projects at a cost of more than R800 000. Now that is progress. We may not have touched everybody, but a start has been made.
Let me once again appeal to the Traditional Authority to work with existing democratic structures such as municipalities. And let me urge all Traditional Leaders in the Province, including those present today, to participate in the municipality sittings so that they can influence the decisions of the meetings.
Indeed, because as leaders we are meant to be leaders of the people, our challenges cannot be different from those that the people face. As the people were their own liberators, so should they become active agents in changing their lives for the better.
Finally, in partnership with all sectors of society, we must continue to give absolute priority to HIV/AIDS programmes.
We must continue to mobilise popular awareness of the seriousness of the epidemic. All of us must realise that the epidemic is not only a health issue, but also an economic one. It is an epidemic which we ignore at our peril.
In conclusion, let me once again express my heartfelt gratitude to the organisers of these celebrations for the invitation extended to us to share with you.
I thank you.