Demanding rightful recognition as traditional leaders, Khoi-San chiefs boycotted the opening of the House of Traditional Leaders on Friday.
The chiefs took the decision after a three-year tussle with the commission over traditional leadership disputes and their claims to be recognised as leaders of indigenous groups.
The group representing five Khoi-San clans staged a sit-in outside the legislative house in Bhisho.
Paramount Chief Crawford Fraser said the little effort put into the verification of the claimed traditional leaders undermined their efforts to represent their communities.
“The commission on the Khoi-San matter was established in 2021, and it’s now 2025. How long does it take for the commission?
“We were the first to submit our application in March 2022, yet we, as the senior Khoi-San leaders, were never interviewed.
“All three applications, for the senior Khoi leader, the branch head and the lastly the communities, have been done.
“We had to change our laws so that we can accommodate the process, but there has been no progress,” he said.
“We had to violate our laws to accommodate the [Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership] Act 3 of 2019.
“But even in that instance, how long does it take to process applications? It has been over three years, but they have not even come to interview me,” he said.
Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane briefly met the chiefs outside the house.
Paramount chief of the San kingdom, Melvin James Smith, said it was absurd that a house established in the interests of the Khoi-San people continued to exclude its leaders.
“On the building, it proudly says it is for Khoi-San, but how is that the case when the Khoi-San leaders are not part of those discussions?
“How do you decide the Khoi-San when we are not inside?”
Eastern Cape co-operative governance and traditional affairs spokesperson Mamnkeli Ngam said the commission was continuing with its work.
“The Traditional Khoi-San Leadership Act provides for recognition of the Khoi San communities.
“It also provides for the establishment of a commission of inquiry to determine the leadership of Khoi San communities.
“The commission was appointed and is now doing its work.
“It is after it has concluded its work and produced a report of its findings that processes towards the recognition of Khoi-San leaders will commence,” he said.
The Herald
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