UN expert urges better coordination in fulfilling needs of indigenous South Africans

While acknowledging that the legacy of colonialism and apartheid cannot be reversed in a few years, the United Nations expert on human rights for indigenous peoples has called for better coordination of the South African Government departments handling indigenous affairs.

The Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous People, Rodolfo Stavenhagen, yesterday wound up a 12-day fact-finding trip to South Africa at the invitation of the Government, during which he met cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, regional land claim commissioners, officials in charge of human rights and cultural expression, as well as representatives of Khoi-San indigenous groups.

Ahead of submitting his formal report to the UN Commission on Human Rights next April, Mr. Stavenhagen said: "All indigenous peoples of South Africa were brutally oppressed by the colonial system and the apartheid regime up to 1994. The Khoi-San were dispossessed of their lands and territories and their communities and cultures were destroyed."

"The tragic consequences of apartheid cannot be overcome in a few years, and the Special Rapporteur is fully conscious of the tremendous efforts that have been made by the democratic Government of South Africa to redress the many injustices inherited from the old regime," he added.

Mr. Stavenhagen said officials were aware of the urgent need to focus on the backlog of unsatisfied indigenous community needs and he was encouraged by the Government's declared commitment to address such issues as land restitution, multilingual and multicultural education, the representation of traditional authorities in public life, and the delivery of health and other services.

Meanwhile, however, the Khoi-San have been dissatisfied by the delays in providing services. "More coordination between the various government departments that deal with indigenous peoples is required," he said.

In addition to his meetings with the National Khoi-San Council, which raised the issue of "the statutory non-recognition of the Khoi and San peoples," and representatives of the Griqua, Mr. Stavenhagen attended a university workshop on the rights of the San, Koranna, Nama, Griqua and Cape Khoi peoples.

He also held talks with !Xu and Khwe groups, San communities which were re-settled in South Africa's Northern Cape after returning from forced displacement into Angola and Namibia. Those discussions focused on challenges and successes in providing such services as housing, health and education. In this connection, he visited a San rock art site at Wildebeestkuil.