Kimberley- Issues such as high crime rate, racism, erosion of Ubuntu, unemployment, corruption, land distribution and youth development have topped the agenda during the Northern Cape Provincial Social Cohesion Summit.

The summit was held at Nababeep in the Namakwa District on Monday.

It came as a build up towards the National Social Cohesion Summit which is scheduled to be held in March 21st 2015.

“The country’s constitution was also criticized of giving criminals more rights than the crime victims. Delegates have also encouraged the use of traditional leadership to instill values of moral regeneration” departmental spokesperson Morapedi Sekhoane said.

The Lesbians, Gays, Bi-Sexual, Trans-Gender and Intersex Organisation (LGBTI) has called for the recognition of Bi-sexual and transgender community.

Some of the members of the organization have called for tough action against government officials who they accuse of often plagiarizing their business ideas.

Delegates who came from all corners of the province, have also expressed a need for recognition and support of the Khoisan/khomani San languages.

The appointment of properly qualified officials at all structures of government was also raised as a thorny issue.

The Departmental Senior Manager for Strategic Management Bonakele Jacobs encouraged those who raised concerns around the repatriation of bodies of freedom fighters which are reportedly buried at Nababeep to their ancestral land to engage with the department for further engagement.

The summit was aimed at promoting a culture of conversations among South Africans, with specific focus on the subject of social cohesion and building a caring nation.

“It was also intended to identify key socio-economic, political, cultural and environmental stressors to social cohesion prevalent in respective districts” Sekhoane said.

Resolutions will be used to contribute towards the National Summit which will be held on 21 March 2015.
-TDN
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