Question NW3877 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
12 December 2023 - NW3877
Makamba-Botya, Ms N to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
What (a) steps has she taken to empower headmen to be more effective in their communities and (b) tools of trade are they provided with, since they are regarded as office bearers?
Reply:
a) In relation to training and empowerment of headmen/women, there are those coordinated by the National Department of Traditional Affairs (DTA) and individual Provincial CoGTA Departments. During the 2021/22 financial year, the DTA in partnership with LGSETA coordinated training of four hundred and forty-one (441) Traditional and Khoisan Leaders (inclusive of headmen/women) on the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act 2019, Act No. 3 of 2019 (TKLA). In addition, during the 2022/23 financial year, DTA facilitated training of eight hundred and fifty-one (851) traditional leaders, consisting of Senior Traditional Leaders, Headman/women including women structures in traditional communities on Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) and Customary Initiation Act 2021, Act No. 2 of 2021 (CIA).
According to information received from Provincial CoGTA Departments, they also undertake empowerment programmes for headmen/women as reflected in Annexure A.
b) The provision of tools of trade to headmen/women is a provincial competence. According to information received from Provincial CoGTA Departments, the status quo is as reflected in Annexure A. However, in order to promote uniform norms and standards, the DTA is currently in consultation with Provincial CoGTA Departments on a draft Handbook on the tools of trade for traditional leaders.
End.