At the ANC's weekend land summit, former president Kgalema Motlanthe's criticised tribal leaders saying they act like 'village tinpot dictators' and this has angered traditional leadership authorities.
President of The Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA (Contralesa) Kgosi Mokoena tells Ray White on The Midday Report that Motlanthe's comments were 'unfortunate' - especially as someone who himself grew up in the rural areas and should understand where traditional leadership comes from.
Calling our kings and queens and traditional leaders village tinpot dictators is so, so, so arrogant.
— Kgosi Mokoena, President of The Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA (Contralesa)
He adds that Motlanthe wrote and finalised a report on a high-level panel without consulting or meeting with traditional leaders.
One of his recommendations was that traditional leaders cannot be trusted to administer land. land should be removed and placed under municipalities.
— Kgosi Mokoena, President of The Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA (Contralesa)
He says they have called for the ANC to distance itself from Motlanthe's comments. If this is not done, he says Contralesa will call a big meeting of all the traditional leaders, kings and queens to decide a way forward.
There were many of our traditional leaders who were deposed from their position, some were even exiled, jailed and some even died on Robben island fighting for their land. And for someone to come out and say we are not fit to lead, it is unfortunate.
— Kgosi Mokoena, President of The Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA (Contralesa)
He says it is extremely insulting.
Listen to what Mokoena has to say:
This article first appeared on 702 : Contralesa deeply insulted by Motlanthe's 'tinpot dictator' comment
