We have worked hard and prayed – God has answered. The government and the African National Congress have found it only right to empower the Khoi-San people and their descendants. The Bill that is upcoming will allow Khoi-San and descendant leaders to empower Khoi-San and so-called classified coloured people.

Very little is said about this in the media so our people need to learn more to understand. This comes at the right time when the reopening of the 1913 land claims, which exception was made only for the Khoi-San and descendants. Heritage and historical landmarks are for all to claim. Khoi-San heritage covers the whole country.

All those that benefitted as other nationalities cannot again benefit from this Khoi-San heritage. Those that were classified coloured are the only beneficiaries. Historical land marks are places that caused hardship and pain to these communities, especially after the Group Areas Act and the Classification Board of South Africa.

The Khoi-San and descendants were stripped of everything. They were forced out of farms, rural land and forced into coloured townships. This Bill will serve the Khoi-San and descendants as the Convention for Indigenous People of South Africa stands. Khoi-San chiefs will need their heritage sites back under their control.

They will also need their land, some of which is privately owned now by the state or municipality, some are owned by trusts. SAHRA will have to let go so we can take care of our heritage. The court doors are open if this process is not respected but government has done all in its power to make this happen. Don’t be surprised, big changes are about to take place.

Chief Raymond Trollip