The efforts of Eastern Cape kings and queens to fight for the development of their respective communities have been bolstered with the establishment of the Eastern Cape kings/ queens forum.
The forum is a platform for the monarchs to speak with one voice and engage with government on issues of development.
At times, the monarchs operate in silos, making it difficult for the provincial government to respond to issues raised. The forum, created earlier this month, will meet four times a year to discuss matters affecting their communities and traditional leaders.
Not all the queens will sit in the forum, only those who are acting or regents.
Cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa said the forum would make it easier for the kings and queens to communicate with political leaders, NGOs and business leaders.
One the forum’s objectives is to create a “war room” with the provincial government, to help speed up service delivery.
Xasa said the kings had requested the establishment of the forum, and the government had delivered on their request.
Xasa said royals did not participate directly in houses of traditional leaders with the exception of the national house of traditional leaders.
“Due to the status and protocols that are in line with customs at kingship level, the direct participation of kings and queens in these structures is not possible,” Xasa said.
The new forum would fill this vacuum, he said.
While the royals welcomed the forum, Eastern Cape house of traditional leaders and Contralesa chair Nkosi Mwelo Nonkonya warned that the forum should not be used by the government to divide and rule traditional leaders...