KZN Cogta MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi urged amakhosi to demand shareholding in the businesses operating in their areas.
Image: Willem Phungula
The KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi has urged traditional leaders (amakhosi) to demand shareholding in all investment opportunities that come to their areas.
Speaking on Tuesday at the graduation ceremony of 50 amakhosi who completed a year-long course on Good Governance Leadership, Buthelezi said the time for amakhosi to be invited for sod turning ceremonies and handshakes with business people is now over.
He stated that amakhosi must be the shareholders of businesses and malls that are emerging from the land under them.
He stated that he just closed down a quarry in KwaDukuza, where the owner was refusing to make the local inkosi a shareholder, instead keeping all profits from the mining operations for himself.
“The time for amakhosi to give a vote of thanks in the opening of companies in their areas is over. Every investment that comes to the rural areas under amakhosi must include them as shareholders. Gone are the days when companies were making a fortune in amakhosi areas without leaving a cent for the local inkosi behind. Amakhosi must demand what rightfully belongs to them,” said Buthelezi.
He further stated that with the governance leadership skills amakhosi obtained through their year-long course at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, amakhosi would now be able to meaningfully participate in the economic development of their areas because they would be the language of the investors.
“With local economic development and land management modules that were included in your course, amakhosi would be able to speak the language of investors and negotiate for their shareholding,” said Buthelezi.
Speaking on behalf of amakhosi, Inkosi Bhekizwe Biyela from Nkandla, north of the province, thanked the provincial government and the university for the course offered to amakhosi.
Inkosi Biyela warned amakhosi to be wary of manipulative businessmen, who will come with gifts and lure amakhosi to hand over their land for business opportunities without benefits for the traditional councils and the communities.
On Monday, close to 300 amakhosi were conferred with certificates as Commissioners of Oath by Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli. This means amakhosi will now have powers to commission affidavits of their communities, a duty that was mainly reserved for the police.
willem.phungula@inl.co.za