Khoisan struggle continues at Union Buildings after two years
By Sakhile Ndlazi
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Pretoria - The struggle for recognition by King Khoisan and his troops remains undeterred – this despite being officially recognised by legislation.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, who met a delegation of the National Khoi-San Council (NKC), said Khoi and San leaders would for the first time be officially recognised and serve in the national and provincial houses.
But King Khoisan, who along with his delegation have camped at lawns of the Union Buildings since 2018, said they were not moved by the announcement and would continue to camp out.
He said the rejection was based on the lack of acknowledgement of first nation status, outstanding land claims and the Khoisan identity. He also insisted that they did not want to be classified as coloured but as Khoisan, San, or Bushmen.
Khoi and San head to Parliament
By Nathan Adams
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Chief Tania Kleinhans-Cedras opposes the Traditional Khoi-San Leadership Act. Picture: Tracey Adams, African News Agency (ANA)
The Traditional Khoi-San Leadership Act which came into effect on Thursday has been met with mixed feelings about what the law meant for these indigenous people.
The legislation formally recognises Khoi and San and ultimately paves the way for representatives to join the National House of Traditional Leaders in Parliament.
It’s been decades in the making and was facilitated by the National Khoi-San Council (NKC) which lobbied government for the formal recognition.
The council’s Chairperson Cecil Le Fleur said: “It is indeed a very great achievement for Khoi and San people. have never been formally recognised both in colonial times, through apartheid and even in the new dispensation.”