Picture: North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi and North West House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders/Facebook
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
19 March 2026- The North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi said this year marks the 30th anniversary since the adoption of the democratic constitution and this serves as a reminder of the many battles waged by traditional leaders in the fight against Colonial-Apartheid rule. Mokgosi, who delivered the keynote address during the official opening of the North West House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders for the year 2026, said this includes the fight against land dispossession, the plundering of the natural resources and the exploitation of the people.
He further said their bravery laid a firm foundation in invigorating a spirit of patriotism, which culminated in the country’s democratic breakthrough with the adoption of a new Constitution in 1996 centered on promoting and preservation of the rights, customs and ethos of traditional leadership. Mokgosi added that as they mark 30 years of this important milestone, they do so cognizant of the important role played by Kgosi Besele of Barolong, Kgosi Galeshewe of Batlhaping, Kgosi Lentswe of Bakgatla, Kgosi Sechele of Bakwena and many others whose contribution continue to encourage many of them to forge ahead with their National Democratic Project.
“As President Cyril Ramaphosa remarked during the opening of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders “the institution of traditional leadership, forms sturdy roots that hold the tree of our nation up.
“Traditional leadership is the institution that anchors us in history. It nourishes our identity. It stabilizes us when storms rage. We meet here today following the presentation of the State of the Province Address (SOPA), as well as the Budget Speech,” he said.
Mokgosi said these two policy statements have prioritized challenges affecting their rural and traditional communities under the jurisdiction of Dikgosi. He said these issues include, but are not limited to road infrastructure, water provision, housing, refurbishment of schools and agricultural development.
“Therefore, the adequate provision of services in our communities will make the role played by our traditional leaders in fostering development seamless. It is a fact that our traditional leaders remain enablers of our socio-economic trajectory particularly as custodians of our land.
“As the provincial government, we reaffirm our support in recognition of traditional leadership as a central pillar of governance, land stewardship, and socio-economic development,” said Mokgosi.
He said they are deliberately repositioning traditional institutions from being peripheral stakeholders to becoming primary partners in economic transformation, investment facilitation and
sustainable development. Mokgosi said at the center of this approach is a programme of institutional reform and economic
realignment, led by the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), which seeks to correct historical imbalances and unlock the economic potential of land under traditional leadership.
The Guardian 