Alex Matlala

Alex Matlala

The Limpopo government will spend more than R25million on vehicles for traditional leaders in the next financial year.

Premier Sello Moloto said that 82 vehicles had already been given to the leaders and another 101 vehicles would be bought before the end of June.

Moloto said the move would help fast track the services of traditional authorities.

"This gesture is to show our appreciation for the job being done by our traditional houses in the province," said Moloto yesterday.

"Traditional councils are the custodians of our culture and tradition. Among other things, their duty is to make sure that our culture is preserved for generations and generations to come," he said.

"They also play an important role in matters of development while at the same time they take part in various organs of government such as the municipalities and the house of traditional leaders," Moloto said.

"It is within this context that traditional leaders deserve to be mobile to carry out their executive mandates of service delivery with precision and distinction," he said.

Moloto added that progress has been made regarding payment to traditional healers.

"We are continuing to revitalise and refurbish the traditional council offices that are being built throughout the province.

"We are also making good progress with regard to the employment of staff," Moloto said.

"Five people would be employed in each of the 183 house of traditional leaders."

House of Traditional Leaders in Limpopo chairman, Sefegole Mageru, applauded the government. He said buying the vehicles was a good investment to speed up the work of traditional leaders in Limpopo.