President Thabo Mbeki has called on traditional leaders to tackle corruption in their ranks, and urged them to lead by example.
”I must say that I am aware that some of the provincial houses [of traditional leaders] have been addressing matters relating to the conduct and discipline of their members,” he told members of the National House of Traditional Leaders (NHTL) on Friday.
”This is important because for traditional leaders to be able to take the lead in addressing the national challenge of moral regeneration, they need to lead by example.”
Mbeki was speaking at the opening of the 11th session of the second term of the NHTL, which got under way in Parliament’s Old Assembly Chamber in Cape Town shortly after 11am.
Earlier in his address, he said many present knew ”of many specific instances when people placed in positions of leadership at whatever level, both public and non-governmental, have engaged in corrupt practices for personal benefit, to the detriment of the people”.
His remarks were greeted with loud applause.
Mbeki said the government was more than willing to support and collaborate with traditional leaders in ”the offensive against the cancer of corruption”.
South Africa had a great need for a cadre of leadership that was truly committed to serve, one that resisted all temptations to abuse state and other power to benefit itself at the expense of the people.
He referred to a ”disturbing spectre of moral decay” in South African society.
”This includes the prevalence of such abominable acts as the rape of women, including children and the elderly, ritual killings, stealing of pension money from the elderly, the disabled and children and … the lack of respect that has crept into our society.”
Mbeki called on traditional leaders to defend and promote the basic values of Ubuntu, and to ”use our age-old value system to defeat all that seeks to define and confirm the stereotyping of our people as barbaric and savage, which they are not”.
The president was also warmly applauded after suggesting it was time traditional leaders found a permanent home within the parliamentary complex.
”I believe that we must also act together to provide permanent premises for the National House of Traditional Leaders within the zone in Cape Town that houses our national Parliament,” he said.
The term of office of the current members of the NHTL ends on May 21 this year. — Sapa