Khoisan Groups Feel Sidelined from National Dialogue

Khoisan Groups Say They Feel Sidelined from National Dialogue

Members of the Boesman Khwe, representing the Khoisan community, have expressed frustration over being sidelined from South Africa’s National Dialogue, despite repeated attempts to participate. They claim their community leaders have been overlooked in key national matters for the past 31 years.

Speaking ahead of the first session of the National Convention at UNISA, which officially kicks off the year-long dialogue, Michelle Sores, High Commissioner for the Khoisan group, said the convention highlights a continuation of historical exclusion. “The first indigenous people of South Africa are being left out of all negotiations regarding our humanitarian rights,” she said.

Sores explained that the Khoisan community has tried to engage with government for the past two years to ensure their voices are included in the dialogue. She criticized the National Khoisan Council, appointed by the late Nelson Mandela, as lacking a true mandate to represent the community. “We have our own councils, our own constituencies, and our own rights under our customs,” she said, adding that government decisions often disregard their input.

The Khoisan delegation hopes that President Cyril Ramaphosa will take note of their concerns and ensure their participation in future discussions. They emphasized three key demands: recognition of their identity as the first indigenous people of Southern Africa, protection of their rights within their communities, and acknowledgment of their place in the country, free from apartheid-era classifications such as “Coloured.”

As the convention hall at UNISA began to fill, the Khoisan representatives expressed cautious optimism. “We hope this won’t be another talk shop,” said Sores. “We are here to represent our people, and we hope our voice will be heard and taken seriously.”

The National Convention sets the stage for a 12-month national dialogue across 20 wards and approximately 15,000 community conversations aimed at shaping a roadmap for South Africa’s future, with a steering committee and follow-up plans to refine the process countrywide.