Some political parties attending the 2025 National House of Traditional and Khoi Leaders Imbizo are unanimous in the recognition of the Khoi and San people.

The Khoi and San people are actively seeking greater recognition and rights, particularly regarding land and cultural preservation.

ANC NEC member David Mahlobo says the country can no longer afford to have the Khoi and San being treated as outcasts.

Mahlobo was speaking at the three-day gathering underway in Boksburg east of Johannesburg.

“One of the biggest issues that we need to address without the fear of  favour or prejudice is the issue of the recognition of the Khoi and San community. We owe it to ourselves even before the arrival of the Jan Van Riebeck and others arrived in 1652 the Khoi and the San they held the fort. Their struggle against colonialism later under apartheid, they too, under the sun cannot be treated as a skunk and they cannot be treated as a pariah amongst the nation of SA. Therefore, the issue of moving with speed is an important matter,” says Mahlobo.

This, just off the heels of members of the Khoi San community protesting their exclusion outside the first National Dialogue the past weekend.

National Convention | Protestors, Khoi San leader bemoans the Convention’s lack of inclusion