Cape Town – Deputy President Paul Mashatile has urged traditional leaders to promote voter participation and ensure free and fair elections.
Mashatile was speaking at a dialogue organised by the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders on Tuesday.
“We will, as a nation, hold the seventh democratic National and Provincial Elections. In this context, traditional leaders should continue to encourage all eligible voters to participate in the elections,” he said.
He added: “We urge traditional leaders to promote free and fair elections and ensure that all voters exercise their democratic right — a right that was hard fought for and must never be taken for granted.”
Mashatile also addressed issues such as the killings of traditional leaders, rural development, land tenure, and social challenges like substance abuse and gender-based violence.
“As an institution located in rural areas, it is important that we collaborate to identify obstacles that are hampering community development, such as the killing of traditional leaders, especially in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.
“We encourage amakhosi and izinduna to continue working closely with the government to address this challenge effectively.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
