Traditional Leaders Organisation Contralesa has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to reprimand Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe for his utterances that all minerals found in South Africa belong to government, not to traditional leaders.
Contralesa President Kgosi Mathupa Mokoena says all minerals in this country belonged to traditional leaders before apartheids forced removals.
Contralesa is shocked and disappointed by the unfortunate utterances of Minister Gwede Mantashe when he said all minerals found beneath the surface of South African soil belong to the state and not to our kings, traditional leaders and our communities. His utterances are really annoying and irritating. It is clear that Mantashe has lost touch with the reality of South African history. Mantashe is quick to forget that before all forced removal and land dispossession our kings and traditional leaders were the real owners of the land and all the minerals beneath our soil. Contralesa calls upon the President to call this man to order. Contralesa demand that Mantashe publicly apologies to our kings, traditional leaders and our communities for his unfortunate utterances. Contralesa says to Mantashe if he has got nothing to say, he must shut up, says Mokoena.
