Chairperson: Kgosigadi Gaongalelwe Moroka
The Chairperson of the Free State House of Traditional Leaders, Kgosigadi Gaongalelwe Audrey Moroka is the fifth chairperson of the House following its establishment in 1996. She was elected unopposed during the first sitting of the fifth House in 2017.
She was born Gaongalelwe Audrey Makgothi on the 02nd of March in 1954 to Gopolang Archibald Sydney Makgothi (father) and Mamosadinyana Martha Makgothi ‘Nee Tane’ (mother) in Thaba Nchu. Kgosigadi Moroka is the eldest child of six. She started primary school at Ereskuld Primay School in 1961 in Thaba Nchu and later moved to New School Primary-known as Tawana Primary School where her father was the principal of the school.
In 1968 Kgosigadi Moroka started her high school at Moroka High in Thaba Nchu where she studied until form 4 (grade 11). After completing her grade 11, she then proceeded to Strydom Teacher Training College in Thaba Nchu where she completed her primary teachers’ course in 1973. The following year, in 1974, she started working as a part-time teacher at Namanyane Primary School in Thaba Nchu. During the same year, she got married to the late Kgosi Mokgopha Tawana Robert Phillip Moroka on the 04th of May 1974.
Her life as a wife to Kgosi Moroka led to the birth of the late Setlogelo Albert Moroka, Moipone Marry Magdaline Moroka, Gaboilelwe Moroka-Motshabi and Gaopalelwe Moroka.
In 1975, the Chairperson of the House moved to St Paul Primary School where she worked as a full time teacher. While working as a teacher at St Paul, Kgosigadi Moroka managed to complete her matric certificate in 1980. “I was appointed as head of the department there in 1985,” said Kgosigadi Moroka. She worked at St Paul until 1989 and was then appointed as the principal at Ratau Primary following the completion of her diploma at University of Port Elizabeth.
While in her new job as the principal, she studied ACE (Advanced Certificate in Education) with the University of Pretoria.
The dawn of democracy in South Africa lead to many things including the establishment of the House of Traditional Leaders at both national and provincial level in 1996. Following the establishment of Free State House of Traditional Leaders she became a member of the provincial House and was sent to represent the Free State at the National House of Traditional Leaders where she served for 15 years. She came back to the provincial House and was elected as the Deputy Chairperson in 2012.
She is currently serving as the Chairperson of the Free State House of Traditional Leaders after she was elected the Chairperson in 2017. According to records, Kgosigadi Gaongalelwe Audrey Moroka is one of the longest serving members of the provincial House since its inception.
VISION
An efficient unifying House of Traditional Leaders for traditional structures
MISSION
- To develop and promote systems and processes for effective governance
- To contribute and create cooperative relationships aimed at rural development
- Promote indigenous knowledge systems and sustain development
LEVEL & TERM
This structure is at Provincial Legislature level and serves a 5 year term. The Judge President swears in all the members at the beginning of each term. Members elect amongst them the chairperson and the deputy chairperson.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE HOUSE
The House is constituted by 15 members, 3 members from each of the 5 legally recognised traditional communities, namely:
- Bakoena ba Mopeli (Qwa-Qwa)
- Makholokoe (near Harrismith)
- Batlokoa ba Mokotleng (Qwa-Qwa)
- Batlokoa ba Mokgalong (Vrede) and
- Barolong boo Seleka (Thaba Nchu)
Currently, of the 15 members, only the chairperson and the deputy chairperson are permanently employed by the House. They perform day to day functions of the House.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
An Executive Committee oversees and monitors the general functions of the House and also perform the following duties;
- Monitor the performance of Committees of the House by giving directives and guidelines
- Formulate strategies for proper functioning of the House.
- Advise and make proposals to the M.EC and the premier and interact with Premier on matters relating to traditional leadership.
- Advise and interact with various provincial governments on matters affecting rural communities and traditional leadership.
- To monitor effective participation of all members of the House.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Free State House of Traditional Leaders is responsible for the following functions:
- Advise the provincial government or the provincial legislature on developmental matters relating indigenous law or affecting traditions and customs of traditional communities.
- Advise the provincial government and participating and participate in the development of provincial policies and legislation.
- To participate in national and provincial development programmes.
- To promote the role of traditional leadership within the Free State Province.
- Participate in partnership with other stakeholders, in provincial initiatives meant to monitor, review and evaluate government programmes in traditional communities.
- To enhance unity and understanding among Free State traditional communities.
- To enhance co-operation between the Local Houses and the traditional councils in the Free State Province.
- To participate in the structures of government.
- To promote and protect cultural values, morals and indigenous practices of the communities.
- May exercise such other powers and must perform such tasks as may be conferred by the Premier or as may be provided for in any other relevant provincial legislation.
COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE
In order to execute the duties and responsibilities of the House of Traditional Leaders, 6 Committees have been established;
Internal Arrangement Committee
- Responsible for the welfare of members
- Responsible for the capacity building of members of the House
- Preparation of the opening and closing functions of the House
- Oversee the operations of the Local House and Traditional Councils
- Assist with the acquisition of funds for effective operation of traditional councils
- Interact with the Traditional Affairs Directorate regarding support to Traditional Councils
- Monitor and evaluate the functioning of traditional councils.
Social Development Committee
- Responsible for the social matters of communities
- Responsible for the safety of rural communities
- Liaising with stakeholders regarding developmental needs of communities
- Facilitating the establishment of projects in rural communities
- Ensuring the involvement of Traditional Leaders in the fight against HIV/ AIDS
- Involvement and participation of IDP and IRDSP
Tradition, Customs and Culture Committee
- Data collection of African cultures
- Compile and publicise traditional/cultural events and historic activities taking place with the province.
- Revival of customs and good cultural activities in the Province.
- Interaction with SAHRA on the identification of Heritage sites that need preservation.
Interaction with the Department of Arts, Culture and Sports in the province
- Convening Lekgotla to address the tradition, custom, values and practices.
- Establishing and maintaining relations with the Freedom Park Trust.
- Involvement in the activities of the Moral Regeneration Movement.
- Planning Provincial Heritage Day Activities.
- Assist traditional councils in organising cultural functions/ celebrations
Constitutional Development Committee
- Drafting of rules and orders regulating the conduct of the business and proceedings of the House and or its committees
- Interact with the Department of Constitutional Development and any other relevant department on matters, Bills or affecting Traditional Leaders and Traditional Authorities
- Interact with the South African Law Reform Commission on the harmonisation of Customary Law and Common Law.
- Attend to all legislative matters at all levels that affect the institution of Traditional Leadership.
Land Use and Infrastructure Committee
- Land administration
- Land development
- Oversight on the delivery of services to rural communities
- Manage the implementation of CLARA
- Oversight on the implementation of local government legislation
- Oversight function on LED, ISRDP and Spatial Planning