Despite the Presidency updating the Khoisan who have been camping on the lawns of the Union Buildings on progress made to meet their demands, Chief Khoisan SA will allegedly declare independence and self-governance in the new year.

The group, led by Chief Khoisan SA, returned to the Union Buildings earlier this month to insist that President Cyril Ramaphosa address their demands.

They first camped outside the Union Buildings in December last year.

The Khoisan have publicly stated that they intend to “take our country back” and have slammed the land reform process, believing the Khoi and San communities are the original owners of South African land.

Some of their demands dating back to December 2017 include the recognition of the Khoisan and their languages and to return all the land to them as the “actual owners”, while scrapping the land reform policy that land claims are limited to land taken through the 1913 Natives Land Act.

They have further requested government to remove and replace the word ‘coloured’ from all government documents with ‘Khoisan’.

When officials from the Presidency met Khoisan community members on the lawns to receive their notice intended for President Ramaphosa, they refused to present their notice, including to Presidency director-general Cassius Lubisi, Presidency spokesperson Khusela Diko said.

“The government representatives who have met with the Khoisan protesters in recent days have outlined to the group the steps government has taken to respond to the demands made a year ago.

“Government has indicated to the group that, with regard to the recognition of the Khoi and San, there is a parliamentary process to consider the Traditional and Khoisan Leadership Bill, and the group should take advantage of that process to make its voice heard,” said Diko.

Government has also, through the Pan South African Language Board, made strides in promoting and recognising the Khoi and San languages. This included the development of the Khoekhoegowab Dictionary Glossarium, of which 500 copies were distributed, and a memorandum of agreements was concluded with Namibia to train people to teach Khoisan language and culture.

“Regarding the demand to remove the word ‘coloured’, the group was informed that such removal could not be effected without a public consultation process.”

Chief Khoisan SA said the group would declare independence and self-governance tomorrow. – rorisangk@citizen.co.za

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