The coronavirus pandemic will continue to be with us for some time to come and the task of rebuilding the country is immense, President Cyril Ramaphosa told the National House of Traditional Leaders on Thursday.

He began his address at the opening of the National House of Traditional Leaders by paying tribute to traditional leaders who have died over the past year.

"We mourn their loss and may their souls rest in peace. Some of our leaders have passed away due to the deadly pandemic that is still very much with us."

Ramaphosa said Covid-19 claimed the lives of more than 2.5-million people worldwide and more than 50 000 in South Africa.

He thanked traditional leaders for their efforts to fight the pandemic.

"You worked with us to ensure communities observe regulations and protocols, including with respect to funerals and other gatherings. You have assisted with the procurement of personal protective equipment and the distribution of food parcels together with various stakeholders.

"We would like to thank you for your contribution. With partnerships of this nature, we can do more to improve the plight of our communities. If it were not for these concerted efforts, many more lives would have been lost."

He said they also understood that sacrifices have had to be made to keep communities safe.

"I want to commend the National House of Traditional Leaders, the provincial houses and (Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa) Contralesa for your management of the customary initiation process during the pandemic.

"As hard a decision as it was to make, you agreed that we suspend initiation in all provinces when the pandemic was at its height. As a result, we were able to ensure that fewer people were exposed to the virus."

Ramaphosa recalled that he had informed the house last year that there would be a Presidential Summit on Land.

"I am advised that owing to the lockdown restrictions these provincial engagements could not be concluded.

"I am, however, pleased that even under these difficult circumstances the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Land Reform chaired by the Deputy President has continued to do further work on the key issues."

He said they remain committed to the summit.

"The institution of traditional leadership must be at the forefront of both land reform and the agrarian revolution," he said, resuscitating a topic he raised in his previous engagements with the house.

Ramaphosa said gender-based violence "remains a massive problem in our country and threatens the health and safety of women and children".

Ramaphosa thanked traditional leaders for their efforts to fight the pandemic. (GCIS)

"We note with appreciation the efforts of traditional leaders to fight this scourge as well as other harmful cultural practices," he said.

"This includes the commitment by the National House to work with the Men's Sector of the South African National Aids Council to establish Men's Parliaments in all 882 traditional councils."

"I understand that the plan is for these Men's Parliaments to meet once every quarter, where men and boys can discuss gender-based violence and femicide and the contribution they can make to ending it."

Ramaphosa concluded by returning to the pandemic.

"The coronavirus pandemic will continue to be with us for some time to come. The task of rebuilding our country is an immense one.

"The partnerships between government, traditional leaders, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders will be key to our success.

"We have demonstrated over the past year that when we work together we can achieve more."