THOHOYANDOU – Members of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) in Limpopo says they are not happy about the government's delay in releasing the report of the findings of the Ralushai Commission on traditional leadership in the province.

This follows a call by MEC in the Premier's office Catherine Mabuza, during her address on behalf of Premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi, that traditional leaders must exercise patience over the release of the Ralushai Commission's findings. Mabuza was addressing traditional leaders during the opening of the house of traditional leaders in the province at Thohoyandou old parliament buildings last Tuesday. She said "we need to exercise patience because the proposed legislation will enable us, both as government and traditional leaders, to address claims with efficiency as compared with the existing framework."

However, the Contralesa Chairperson, Setlamorago Thobejane said "we are very disappointed on the basis that issues which were supposed to be high on the agenda, like the Ralushai Commission were never addressed. If government still expects us to exercise patience after seven years when they are doing nothing except putting our issue on the table, then something is wrong." He added that they are also not happy about the government's decision to appeal against the judgement given by Judge Botha, who ruled that government should release all reports affecting the 46 applicants, who want government to release the findings of the Ralushai Commission.

"Our position as congress, we believe that instead of wasting more time and money, we believe we should sit down and find a way where we will then identify the soft spot of the entire report and come up with a common understanding which will serve as a pilot form of implementing the content of the commission," said Thobejane.

He also added that they were concerned about the fact that the government did not invite traditional leaders when developing a draft of regulations on initiation schools. Thobejane intimated that the draft might meet with resistance or face all sorts of problems from members who will find it difficult to accept, as they were not briefed about it.

However, Mabuza said both government and traditional leaders should engage with each other and refrain from pre-empting the outcomes of the proposed legislation through unnecessary legal battles.

Ms Mabuza also expressed concern about traditional leaders who were disobeying government by appointing headmen without government's concern.