Pretoria - The Department of Traditional Affairs will be engaging stakeholders on the National Traditional Affairs Bill (NTAB), which mainly focuses on consultation of the Khoi-San communities.
The department's Josephine Appolus said the consultative process meeting will be held in Johannesburg tomorrow at the Kibler Park Recreational Centre from 10am until 2pm.
The Bill seeks to consolidate the National House of Traditional Leaders Act of 2009 and the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act of 2003.
It also provides for matters relating to the recognition of Khoi-San communities, leadership positions and structures.
In the past few years, government focused extensively on the development of policy aimed at the recognition of the Khoi-San, leading to the establishment of the National Khoi-San Council on 27 May 1999.
Although this council is not a statutory body, it has played a significant role in the subsequent processes that were followed, with the ultimate goal of attaining statutory recognition of the Khoi-San.
"In order to accommodate all the matters relating to the Khoi-San, it was decided to replace the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act and the National House of Traditional Leaders Act, with a single comprehensive Bill dealing with all matters relating to traditional and Khoi-San leadership, governance matters as well as matters relating to the houses of Traditional Leaders. This recognition is now contained in the National Traditional Affairs Bill," said Appolus.
The Bill makes provision for the Khoi-San to indisputably become part of traditional structures, and will ensure that the interests of the Khoi-San will in future be protected and promoted. - BuaNews
