In completing her third and last leg of engagements with Local Houses of Traditional Leadership and introducing herself to traditional leaders across the province, the North West MEC for Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Manketsi Tlhape said that in order for her department to be successful in fulfilling its mandate of supporting institutions of traditional leadership, traditional leaders’ role in government should be emphasized as vital.

“We must demonstrate cooperation between traditional leaders and government in our province, our communities should see us working together not against each other. It is also important for government to give traditional leaders the necessary support in order for them to also achieve what they wish to achieve in their rural communities”, MEC Tlhape said.

She was addressing the Bojanala Platinum Local House of Traditional Leadership in Rustenburg when she made mention that traditional leaders are a pillar on which government in general should lean and seek advice on how best can government serve traditional communities.

“Government should be taking lead from traditional leaders as they know and understand the needs of their communities. If necessary, they should summon us as government and advise us on what needs to be done in their communities. Traditional leaders are an integral part of our governance and their contribution towards government’s programme of action is crucially important”, she said.

MEC Tlhape has already met with traditional leaders in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati, Ngaka Modiri Molema Districts as well as members of the North West House of Traditional Leaders. Issues that traditional leaders have raised, include capacitating the administration supporting staff complement at traditional council offices and district offices. The department is to look at various areas of development in line with their duties to enhance administration at these offices.