Muni engages with traditional leaders

LIMPOPO – This follows after the mayor and traditional leaders recently had a meeting at the Bakenberg Tribal Hall in Matlhaba village, where Matsemela introduced the councillors to the traditional leaders and promised to keep them in the loop regarding important decisions in relation to service delivery.

In her address, Matsemela said: “It is important for the government to consult and take the views of various stakeholders into consideration when planning. We have various platforms where we engage with our people on issues relating to service delivery in our villages and townships”.

Matsemela added: “Traditional leaders have been there for ages and it is our duty as a municipality to make sure that these leaders are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, we were taught this by our elders and the ANC”.

The municipality felt that it was important to engage with the traditional leaders separately because these are the people who know first-hand what service delivery challenges the resident are facing in their villages. They are also respected and therefore they are an important link between the government and the communities.

She said the inclusion of traditional leaders in municipal council meetings was an indication that the Mogalakwena Municipality regards traditional leadership as an important part of service to communities. She also apologised for the instability that the municipality experienced during the previous term of council. “Our doors are always open to you as we cannot achieve greatness without the support of the traditional leaders,” Matsemela continued.

Eskom Provincial Spokesperson, Dikgabane Rampedi, was also among the elite guests who attended the meeting and he urged the traditional leaders to emphasise to the communities the importance of refraining from vandalising transformers and electric cable theft.