The rural communities of Rammbuda Territorial Authority interacted with the Deputy-President of South Africa, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, when she visited them last week Friday.

The visit constitutes part of the National House of Traditional Leaders’ (NHTL) public participation programme. The function took place at Tshakhumba sports grounds in Dzimauli.

Members of the public discussed a wide range of social issues, including HIV/Aids, education, local economic development, cultural and tourism issues, moral regeneration and the promotion and usage of indigenous languages with her.

The Deputy-President was accompanied by the chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders, Khosi Fhumulani Kutama, Limpopo Premier Sello Moloto, Vhembe District Executive Mayor Philemon Mdaka and the mayors of the Thulamela and Mutale Municipalities, Khosi Thivhulawi Makumbane and Cllr Lucas Manyuha.

When addressing the crowd, the Deputy-President said traditional leaders were very instrumental in the development of the community. She said the relationship between the government and the NHTL had already started bearing fruit as there was a clear moral regeneration and the restoration of African values.

"This democratic government has a long history of a relationship with the traditional leaders and that is why we feel that there is a need to maintain the importance of traditional authority. Traditional leaders were there even during the formation of the ANC many years ago. We all have a duty to build a South Africa that works for all the people. We must work together to build this country although we can sometimes make mistakes."

She asked Africans to retain what rightfully belongs to them. "It is a real danger for African children who do not speak their own languages. That is a real loss of identity. Other nations do not compromise their languages and we must also practice that for the sake of the coming generations. It is a bad thing to frown at traditional leaders who address us in African languages. We must speak these African languages and promote our indigenous knowledge systems."

She advised community members to create their own jobs to strengthen their local economic development programmes. "Our country is very rich in natural resources and we must use both the environment and culture to promote tourism." She also warned people against the dangers of HIV, crime, women and children abuse.

Premier Sello Moloto said it was the duty of everyone to make sure that the objectives that we set as a nation were realized. He said people had to make use of traditional leaders because they are nearer. "Traditional leaders have a meaningful role to play because we can use them to reach out to the most outward rural areas of our land. We also have to make sure that we strive to achieve our millennium development targets, IDP and economic objectives as a nation."