Kgosi Pelonomi Toto, the Provincial Chairperson of the Northern Cape House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders, presided over the opening of the Northern Cape Provincial House today, 18 June 2025, at the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, in Kimberley.
The first session was addressed by Premier, Dr Zamani Saul, who acknowledged the invaluable role played by Traditional and Khoisan leaders for generations, as custodians of culture, community builders, and as moral compasses of society. Premier Saul also announced that the Provincial Government will construct five (5) Traditional councils for an amount of R3.5 million each. The Traditional councils will include a Kgotla, a fully furnished administrative office, and build eight (8) palaces for the recently elevated Principal Traditional leaders during the 2027/2028 Financial Year at a value of R4 million per palace.
 
The second session was addressed by the MEC of COGHSTA, Bentley Vass, who highlighted some of the important milestones reached by the Northern Cape Provincial Government working with the Traditional Leadership Institution. MEC Vass also said the Department of COGHSTA has spent R7 million on the reconstitution process of Traditional councils, with the implementation of the reviewed formula by the Minister of COGTA for 10 to 18 members per Traditional council, this process was concluded on 30 January 2025, and the Department has gazetted the names of all traditional council members as at 04 February 2025.
 
The Chairperson of the National House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders, Kgosi Seatlholo, also addressed this session.
 
The opening of the Northern Cape House was graced by several MECs, as well as Provincial House Chairpersons of the Free State, Mpumalanga, KZN, and the North West provinces, among many other dignitaries and stakeholders.