Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale has urged traditional leaders in the province to play an active role in developing their communities, so that government services can reach the poor people.

Premier Mathale was speaking in the Thulamela local municipality’s council chambers during a sitting of provincial traditional leaders last Tuesday. Every year, after the opening of the house, senior traditional leaders from five districts in the province gather to ask the Premier for some clarity on issues he addressed in his opening of the traditional house.

Premier Mathale was joined by the chairperson of the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders, Kgosi Stogelo Makgeru, and more than 30 senior traditional leaders from all corners of the province.

Mathale said his government had set aside R192 million this financial year in order for the House of Traditional Leaders and Local Houses to operate effectively and respond to the demands of their mandate. He said they had transferred Traditional Affairs to be incorporated with the Department of Local Government and Housing as from April 1.

Mathale also said that his government would give full support for the "two provincial kings" recognised by the Nhlapo Commission, Kgosikgolo Thulare Thulare and Thovhele Toni Mphephu Ramabulana. He added that the government was looking at ways of inaugurating them. He also urged traditional leaders to mobilise their communities to turn out in large numbers and cast their vote for the organization of their choice on the 18th of May this year.

One of the senior traditional leaders who attended, Khosi Fhumulani Kutama, told Premier Mathale that he would be pleased if traditional leaders were engaged in a rural development programme, so that poor communities could get better government services.