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Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa chaired a meeting of traditional and community leaders of Vuwani, Limpopo, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria today, Wednesday 7 October 2015.

The meeting was attended by Pravin Gordhan, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Chief Livhuwani Matsila, Chief Nthumeni Masia, Chief Jeffrey Ramovha and Mr Arnold Mulaudzi leading a delegation of community-based structures.

The meeting today was a follow-up to Deputy President Ramaphosa’s visit to Vuwani last month where he interacted and listened to community grievances regarding the decision of the Municipal Demarcation Board to create a new municipality in the Vhembe district in Limpopo.

The Deputy President welcomed the spirit in which today’s meeting was conducted and the commitment by all stakeholders to continue to work together to address challenges facing the Vuwani and affected communities.

In this regard the Deputy President stressed the importance of the need for continuous dialogue among all stakeholders- government, traditional and community leaders -in addressing challenges facing the Vuwani area and affected communities.

In assessing the current situation, traditional and community leaders informed the Deputy President of the legal challenge launched by the community in the courts of law to review and set aside the decision of the Municipal Demarcation Board to create a new municipality in the Vhembe district. In this regard, the meeting agreed to await the outcome of legal processes while maintain peace and stability in and around Vuwani and affected communities.

Government committed itself to continue extending the much needed basic, critical, essential services and development to the people in the Vuwani area as part of its broad mandate to improve the lives of our people.

Deputy President Ramaphosa said government recognises the right of communities to express their grievances and aspirations within the ambit of the law and Constitution of our country. In this context the Deputy President Ramaphosa emphasised the critical role of leadership in leading struggles for a better life for all our people.

Both Deputy President Ramaphosa, traditional and community leaders underscored the importance of promoting social cohesion through non-racialism, non-tribalism and non-sexism in our traditions, values and practice.

Issued by The Presidency