Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has announced plans to coordinate the inaugural meeting of the newly established National Khoi and San Interim Consultative Forum, ensuring it represents all the stems, including the National Khoi-San Council. Hlabisa made this statement on the final day of a three-day national convention held at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni, where Khoi and San community leaders gathered to discuss the challenges they face, including the long-standing issue of formal recognition.
The convention, which was hailed as an overwhelming success, underscored the importance of inclusivity, with the department emphasizing that the Khoi and San people were united in their efforts. One of the central concerns raised was the formal recognition of the Khoi and San communities, which the government will actively pursue. A call was made for representatives from each of the five stems, additional groupings, and the National Khoi and San Council (NKSC) to come together and speak with a unified voice on issues affecting the Khoi and San peoples.
In a move to address these concerns, Hlabisa outlined the steps ahead, which include establishing the National Khoi and San Interim Consultative Forum and assigning a name for it. This body will collaborate with the Department of Traditional Affairs to define its terms of reference and identify how it will receive support from the government and other stakeholders advocating for the rights and recognition of the Khoi-San people.
The minister noted that while the National Khoi-San Council is not a legally recognized structure, it would serve as an essential platform for the Khoi-San communities to speak in unison. Hlabisa referred to the Commission on Khoi-San Matters, established in 2021, as the legal body through which recognition could be pursued by community leaders, heads of branches, or individuals in the Khoi-San communities. He revealed that over 100 applications for recognition of kings, headmen, and other leaders had been received, with the closing date for submissions in May. He encouraged those seeking formal recognition to follow the Commission’s process to ensure they are properly acknowledged under the law.
As part of the ongoing work to ensure recognition, Hlabisa instructed participants in the convention to return to their communities and consult on the five names each stem would submit for representation. The nominations should ensure that women, young people, and individuals with disabilities are included in the leadership process. Hlabisa also addressed the issue of representation in the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, emphasizing that, while the Khoi and San are present in name, they are not adequately represented. He reiterated that this process would ensure that, through legal recognition, Khoi and San leaders would be fully represented at the local, provincial, and national levels, contributing to the development of South Africa.
In concluding the convention, Hlabisa expressed gratitude for the valuable knowledge, wisdom, and expertise shared by the delegates, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting the Khoi and San communities in their journey toward full recognition and empowerment.
