Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality mayor, Eddie Maila, views traditional leadership as local government's partner in service delivery.

Source: Supplied

The Limpopo government has built state-of-the-art offices for the Manoke Traditional Council in Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality, Burgersfort.

Source: Supplied

Sizwe sama Yende

In a quest to modernise the institution of traditional leadership, the Limpopo government has completed and handed over state-of-the-art offices to the sixth traditional council in the current financial year.

The Manoke Traditional Council in Manoke near Burgersfort is the latest beneficiary of the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs’ (Coghsta) programme and now has new offices worth about R10 million.

The Traditional Leadership and Institutions Act and the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act mandates provincial governments to provide traditional councils with administrative and financial support to serve communities.

Limpopo is predominantly rural with many traditional communities in every nook and cranny of the province.

Speaking on behalf of Premier Phophi Ramathuba during the hand over on Friday last week, Limpopo Finance MEC Kgabo Mahoai said: “It is through traditional ceremonies, dispute-resolution mechanisms, and the transmission of indigenous knowledge that our cultural identity is protected from being lost to time. Their leadership keeps our communities rooted, unified, and connected to the wisdom of our ancestors, while guiding us to adapt responsibly to the demands of a changing world.”

Mahoai added: “The establishment of this new traditional council office rekindles that spirit, bringing structure, dignity, and modern functionality to an age-old institution that has guided generations.”

These offices assist communities with registering customary marriages, issuing of livestock transportation permits and allocation of residential sites.

They also provide testimonials and letters of support, offer space for community meetings, government services, and consultations; and assist with completion of documents for various institutions.

Mahoai said that traditional leaders carried an important responsibility to drive economic development.

“Let us maximise the value of communal land by embracing partnerships, attracting investors, and exploring innovative models such as land leasing so that our land benefits our children and future generations,” he said.

Coghsta has, in the current financial year, already built offices for the following traditional authorities: Raphahleo (in Capricorn district), Mphaphuli (Vhembe), Bakone ba Matlaba a Thaba (Mopani).

The department also aims to deliver office furniture to 38 traditional councils.

The Manoke office will serve five villages under the chieftaincy of Kgoshi Boy Koos Manoke in the Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality.

To ensure smooth operations of the office, Coghsa has appointed three staff members consisting of a senior administrative officer, finance clerk and a cleaner.

Fetakgomo Tubatse Mayor Eddie Maila has emphasized that  traditional leadership was crucial for nation-building and development.

Maila has said that he viewed traditional leaders as key partners in service delivery, working alongside the municipality to tackle issues like land invasion, climate change, and gender-based violence, and integrating them into the District Development Model.