MEDIA BRIEFING 04 September 2018 (Tuesday) 10am Human Rights Resource Centre, 49 Steen Street, Rustenburg, 0299
TO: ALL MEDIA HOUSES
Click on this link to Watch BLBA Media Briefing
PREMIER’S STATUTORY DUTY REGARDING CORRUPTION AND MALADMINISTRATION IN TRADITIONAL COUNCILS – A CASE OF TRADITIONAL COMMUNITIES IN THE BOJANALA PLATINUM DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY, NORTH WEST PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA
‘Come 2019, we shall not vote ANC back in power in the North West Province’ – a cry from a number of disgruntled community members living under traditional system of governance in the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality, North West Province
Over 60% of the population in the North West Province live in areas under traditional system of governance.
More than 50% of world platinum is produced from land under the jurisdiction of Traditional Councils in Bojanala Platinum District Municipality.
Traditional Councils are organs of State established in terms of legislation, and are subject to public law and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
The Premier’s office is enjoined by statute to ensure that Traditional Councils are effectively governed, and assets belonging to Traditional Communities are properly administered. The Premier is duty bound to take necessary steps where allegations of maladministration and corruption are made against Traditional leadership.
The Premier is duty bound to exercise his oversight powers diligently over Traditional Councils, and to avoid the problematic strategy to remain indifferent to the plight of the poor, marginalised and vulnerable rural communities; deliberately driving the aggrieved communities to the streets and the Courts; and to have violent and adversarial adjudication of disputes by the Police and the Courts on issues which are primarily within the Premier’s purview.
Communities of Bapo-ba-Mogale, Bafokeng, Baphalane-ba-Ramokoka and Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela will brief the Media on rampant corruption and maladministration worth (R) billions in their Traditional Councils; why they feel they have been let down by ANC leadership in the North West Province and the erstwhile leadership of former Premier Supra Mahumapelo; why they have been let down by the judiciary in the Province; and why even under such tremendous life threatening social and economic persecution, they choose not to burn tyres and buildings in their villages and surrounding towns.
