CoGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa is convening a national convention of Khoi and San leaders to discuss and find long-term solutions to the issues they have raised, including recognition.
#GovZaUpdates | Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa convenes the All-Inclusive National Convention for Khoi-San Leaders to discuss key issues affecting traditional leadership and communities.
đź“… 14-16 February 2025
⏰ 08:00
📍 Birchwood Hotel#TraditionalLeadership pic.twitter.com/ZMKhwkRJf5— NationalCoGTA 🇿🇦 (@NationalCoGTA) February 13, 2025
The three-day gathering seeks among others to have Khoi and San community speaking with one voice, opening doors for them to participate in the country’s decision-making processes, like other ethnic groups, as well as ensuring their full recognition.
A fragmented and divided ethnic group, it’s a difficult task before the Khoi and the San community over the next three days to find a common ground and to be officially recognised and fully participate in the country’s politics.
Fraught with divisions, the communities have many groupings including the Cape Khoi, the Griqua, the Nama, the Korana and the San, making it difficult for government to engage them as a collective.
But Hlabisa says their deliberations over the three-days have three objectives.
“Why are we here, we want to have one voice for the Khoi and San community. Secondly when we leave here, we must ensure that we leave the doors open, that issues of the Khoi and San will be engaged and thirdly this gathering must mark the process that will result into the full recognition of the Khoi and San community as the legitimate community in South Africa,” says Hlabisa.
He warned against their continued division, saying they will always be on the periphery of governance if they allow themselves to be fragmented.
“As long as you remain divided and do not unite, your divided voices will not be heard. Your matters will not be responded. We must have a united voice of the Khoi and San community. If you remain divided your voice will not be heard, there will be no elections over the next three days. Let us use this opportunity to advance consensus. This all-inclusive convention is not to say this structure must be disbanded or merged with this one. We agree that through consensus to have one voice for the Khoi and San community,” Hlabisa adds.
Weighing in, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Zweli Mkhize urged the communities to dispel the sharply divided notion.
“Part of why over the years there has been difficulty and trepidation on part of the government to deal with the Khoi and San issues is that there is always a believe that the leaders will not agree and today we must debunk that myth but here we must have a way forward and agree that we have this program,” says Mkhize.
King Oscar Esbie calls for the recognition of the Khoi and San nations and the return of their land.
“Look the fact of the matter is that for years we have been seeking to be part of the entire country, but it has been proven that there is resistance from our government. We are happy of what is happening here but all we want is that as a nation we must be recognised and get what is due to us. We don’t want the entire land, but we want to be part of the entire nation,”
High on the Khoi and San communities demand list is the recognition as first nation and for their languages to recognised like other official languages, and to have their land back among others.
And so, the next three days will grapple with getting solutions to these and other challenges facing the country’s first nation.
Video: Traditional Leadership – National convention of the Khoi and San leaders: Velenkosini Hlabisa
