President Cyril Ramaphosa: Official Opening of National House of Traditional Leaders

Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the official opening of the National House of Traditional Leaders, Old Assembly Chamber, Parliament, Cape TownYour Majesties,brTraditional Leaders of our people,brTraditional Leaders from the SADC region,brChairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders, Inkosi SE Mahlangu,brFormer Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders, Kgosi Maubane,brSpeaker of the National Assembly,brSpeaker of the National Council of Provinces,brMinisters and Deputy Ministers,brChairpersons of the Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders and all Traditional Leaders,brPresident of Contralesa, Kgoshi Mokoena,brChairperson of the National Khoi-San Council, Mr Cecil Le Fleur,brLeaders of Political Parties,brChairpersons of Chapter 9 Institutions,brEsteemed Guests,Ladies and Gentlemen,Lotjhani ! Avuxeni! Ndi matsheloni! Dumelang! Sanibonani! Thobela! Molweni! Goeie More! Good Morning!It is an honour and joy to address the opening of the National House of Traditional Leaders.The institution of traditional leadership is a bedrock of South Africa's constitutional democracy.

It remains a vital resource in the hands of our people to repair the social fabric that colonialism and apartheid sought to destroy.It remains a potent instrument bequeathed to us by our ancestors to achieve accelerated, inclusive social and economic development.

To best serve the interests of the most vulnerable of our citizens requires an understanding that traditional authority exists not for its own sake, but to improve the lives of our people.It requires that we affirm and support the historical and contemporary interdependence between our Kings, Queens and Chiefs and the people they lead.

This relationship of mutual interdependence between the ruler and the ruled is captured in the ancient saying, inkosi yinkosi ngabantu.This means that for traditional authority and government not to become despotic or tyrannical, its legitimacy and authority must be derived from satisfying the aspirations of the governed.

To succeed, we look to traditional leaders to be active defenders of democracy and agents of inclusive development.We look to them to be attentive and responsive to the cries of abused women, young people who are losing hope because of lack of training and work opportunities and elderly citizens who live in constant fear of violent criminals.

We look to this House to work with government and other social partners to build a capable developmental state that will deliver clean water, sanitation, clinics and tarred roads especially to those who live in our remote rural villages.We look to...

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