The Khoisan contingency in Welkom needs regional recognition at local government and provincial level.
“We must engage collaboratively for the sake of future generations. Chosen leaders must receive recognition prior to any legitimate and legal commitment,” says Pastor Daniël Theys, headman of the Free State Griqua Royal Authority Council.
“To assist proactively in our region we should engage ourselves with the general praxis of effective government, as well as the common good of indigenous members of society.
“We appeal to the Honourable MEC Mxolisi Dukwana to heed to our appeal for recognition. It is our constitutional right in respect of the entrenched right to recognition, especially minority rights.”
Theys says their members made various efforts to engage with the parastatals of government.
“This is the essential letter and spirit of what the late Pres. Nelson Mandela propagated or had in mind.
“We cannot be caught napping, year after year. It is sheer stupidity to do the same thing over and over again and expect different results.
“We would like to engage into fruitful talks with our current elected local government leaders to put us on the map as a force to be reckoned with,” says Theys.
The Khoisan Party was established in Bronville, the so-called coloured community in the Goldfields, in May 2016.
They then elected a provincial leadership, representative of the Griqua Royal Family of his Royal Majesty Adam Kok V, and the Free State Griqua Royal Authority Council.
This council still leads today.
The Khoisan Party of Bronville has developed a legitimate constitution, but are battling with a general lack of financial resources coupled with an absence of sustainability.
“We still need to establish offices and office infrastructure,” says Theys.
In terms of the political partitioning, a local ward councillor has been awarded ward 11 in as far as service delivery is concerned.
“We as the leaders are constantly engaged with every member of the constituency of the elected members, including the whole leadership extending to the Gauteng region and Kimberley (Northern Cape region).
“To date, all talks with the local government have stalled.”
