Deputy President Mashatile Undertakes Working Visit to Amampondo Kingdom
Deputy President Mashatile undertakes working visit to Amampondo Kingdom on Tuesday, 19 August 2025, where he will meet His Majesty King Ndlovuyezwe Ndamase at the Komkhulu Enyandeni Royal Palace in Libode, Eastern Cape. The visit, themed ‘Traditional Leadership at the Centre of the Developmental Agenda and Social Cohesion through Cooperation with Government’, aims to build ties between government and traditional leaders to tackle service delivery woes and boost local growth. As chair of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team on Traditional Leadership, Mashatile will lead talks on key issues like land rights, rural development, and community unity, while getting updates on progress in areas such as water, electricity, roads, farming help, and fights against crime, drugs, and alcohol abuse.
Background on the Visit and Its Importance in Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape, with its rich mix of cultures and rural spots, often faces big hurdles in getting basic services to people. Places like the Nyandeni Local Municipality in the OR Tambo District deal with poor roads, water shortages, and joblessness that hit hard on families. Traditional leaders, like those in the Amampondo Kingdom, play a key role in these communities, helping to bridge gaps between people and government. The Amampondo, one of the big groups in the province, look to their king for guidance on land, customs, and growth matters.
This visit by Deputy President Paul Mashatile comes at a time when South Africa pushes for better teamwork between modern government and old ways of leading. It follows calls from the 2020 Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act, which aims to give more say to kings and chiefs in local plans. In the Eastern Cape, where over 70% of land falls under traditional rule, such meetings can unlock funds for projects that create jobs and fix services. Past visits by leaders to kingdoms have led to wins like new clinics or farming schemes, showing how these ties can change lives.
Mashatile’s trip also ties into bigger goals set by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who wants rural areas to catch up with cities. The Deputy President has been busy with similar outreach, like his May 2025 talk at the Africa Travel Indaba where he pushed for tourism in places like Libode to bring in money and jobs. Libode, a small town known for its green hills and history, could gain from spotlight on its royal palace and nearby spots, drawing visitors and cash.
Detailed Schedule of the Working Visit Activities
The day kicks off at 09:00 with a private chat between Mashatile and His Majesty King Ndlovuyezwe Ndamase, including a quick photo chance. This sets the tone for deeper talks on shared goals. At 10:00, a bigger group joins for a stakeholder meet, where media can catch opening words and snaps. Here, leaders from government, business, and community will share views on local needs.
By 11:45, the group heads out for a project tour, looking at tourism setup like new lodges or paths that could boost visitors to the area. This hands-on part shows real steps to grow the economy. The day wraps with a community feedback session at 12:30, open to media, followed by a press chat at 14:00 where Mashatile might answer questions on next moves.
These steps make the visit more than just talk – it’s about seeing problems up close and planning fixes. The palace, Komkhulu Enyandeni, stands as a proud spot for the Amampondo, hosting events that mix culture with modern needs.
Theme and Objectives: Putting Traditional Leaders at the Heart of Growth
The theme, ‘Traditional Leadership at the Centre of the Developmental Agenda and Social Cohesion through Cooperation with Government’, spotlights how kings and chiefs can lead on fixes for poverty and splits in society. Goals include setting up ways for government teams to work with locals on service gaps, like bad roads or no power, and push for cash inflows through farms or tourism.
A big aim is to speed up the District Development Model, which Mashatile helps run for President Ramaphosa. This plan brings all levels of government together to make towns work better and deliver what people need. In OR Tambo District, it means tackling water woes that leave taps dry or electricity cuts that hurt homes and shops.
The visit will cover updates on key areas: better water access, more lights and power, road fixes for safe travel, help for farmers to grow food and jobs, and steps to cut crime, drug use, and booze problems that tear families apart. These talks could lead to new funds or projects, like skills classes for young people or safety drives with police.
Role of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team on Traditional Leadership
Mashatile leads the Inter-Ministerial Task Team on Traditional Leadership, set up by President Ramaphosa to handle tough issues in rural spots. The team guides on land ownership and rights, which often spark fights over who owns what. It pushes for faster growth in villages, like building schools or clinics, and draws in cash for roads and tech.
Skills training gets a big focus, helping young folks learn trades to find work. The team also works on building unity, bringing people together across cultures for a stronger nation. In the Eastern Cape, where land matters a lot to traditions, this group has helped settle disputes and start projects that create jobs.
“The visit by the Deputy President demonstrates a distinct commitment by government to provide steadfast support for the work of traditional and Khoi-San leaders in addressing the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment affecting members of the surrounding communities,” the Deputy President’s office said.
Statements from the Deputy President’s Office and Broader Commitments
The office stressed Mashatile’s backing for the District Development Model to fix town halls and deliver services. “In this regard, the Deputy President and his delegation, together with His Majesty, will receive an update on progress achieved by government in addressing service delivery issues such as access to water, electricity, adequate road infrastructure, agriculture support, and interventions to address crime, drugs and alcohol abuse,” they added.
This shows government’s promise to listen and act, with Mashatile often visiting kingdoms to build trust. His team includes ministers and experts ready to roll out plans. Media can join parts of the day, with spots for questions to keep things open.
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