Residents Raise Mixed Views On

Kang residents have expressed mixed reactions to government’s proposal to establish a Constitutional Court, with some welcoming the move as a long-overdue step toward equality and access to justice, and others urging authorities to prioritise constitutional reforms and economic recovery. Residents expressed these sentiments at a Constitutional Court consultative kgotla meeting which was addressed by the Minister of Water and Human Settlement, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi in Kang on Monday. Those in support said the court could help address long-standing concerns of marginalisation in the Kgalagadi region, where ethnic groups had historically been regarded and treated as minority communities.

One resident, who supported the establishment of ConCourt was Mr Kemmone Makatane, who said such a move would strengthen citizens’ rights and enable communities to benefit more directly from natural resources in their areas. “In countries where there is a Constitutional Court, citizens are able to benefit from their natural resources. This could create opportunities for tribes in mining areas to benefit from the mines in their districts, unlike the current situation where government benefits while local communities receive no royalties,” he said.

Mr Makatane added that such a court would provide recourse for citizens to hold government accountable for service delivery in sectors such as health, education and development. Meanwhile, other residents called on government to halt the process and instead focus on amending the Constitution or strengthening the Court of Appeal pending a comprehensive constitutional review. Mr Mautswe Mabe questioned how the proposed court would deal with sensitive issues such as intermarriages and capital punishment, while Mr Abel Phori challenged the urgency of the proposal in light of the country’s economic challenges. Some residents also called for assurances that the ConCourt’s decisions would not conflict with Christian principles, particularly on issues such as same-sex marriage.