Nkosikazi Mhlauli elected Chairperson of NHTKL
27 January 2022
At a special sitting of the of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders (NHTKL) convened in terms of section 33(3) of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act, 2019 (Act No 3 of 2019) read with rule 17 of the Rules and Orders of the NHTKL, unanimously elected Nkosikazi Nomandla Dorothy Mhlauli as its Chairperson. Her election, makes her the 6th elected chairperson since the NHTKL establishment and the first woman elected to lead this important house. The election of Nkosikazi Mhlauli has great significance for the institution of traditional leadership and the broader national goal to ensure the recognition of woman rights in our democratic country.
The position of the Chairperson became vacant following the untimely passing of Ikosi SE Mahlangu on 16 July 2021 and Nkosikazi Mhlauli who was the Deputy Chairperson at the time has since been acting as the Chairperson. The NHTKL members appreciated the leadership of the late chairperson, Ikosi Mahlangu.
Following the election process of Nkosikazi Mhlauli, as the New Chairperson of the NHTKL, her previous position of the Deputy Chairperson became vacant. The members of the NHTKL nominated and voted for Kgosi Thabo Milton Seatlholo as the new Deputy Chairperson.
The election of the Chairperson was presided over by Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Obed Bapela as designated by the Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, as per section 34(9) of the Act, which states that - “the Minister or a person designated by the Minister must preside over the election of a member of the House to fill the vacancy”. The election of the Deputy Chairperson was presided over by the newly elected chairperson in terms of as per section 34(10) of the Act.
The Acting Judge President AP Ledwaba conducted the swearing in of both the newly elected Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the NHTKL.
Deputy Minister Bapela congratulated both the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson of the NHTKL and wished them well as they continue to move the institution of traditional leadership to even greater heights.
The Deputy Minister emphasised the importance NHTKL and the key role it plays as one of the key traditional leadership institutions in South Africa's constitutional democracy.
Bapela committed that government will continue to engage and work with traditional leader and all stakeholders, to better the lives of communities.
Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs