T Mbeki: National House of Traditional Leaders conference

14 December 2006

Your Majesties and Royal Highnesses,
Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the National House of Traditional
Leaders,
Chairpersons and members of the Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I am grateful to the National House of Traditional Leaders for this
opportunity to address your Annual Conference. We are meeting here at this
Conference because together we have a national responsibility to work together
to achieve the noble objective of a better life for all our people.

This is a national task that demands true leadership, partnership and
commitment from all of us to respect the fundamental interests of all our
people.

The esteemed members of the National House know how much I and the rest of
the National Cabinet are inspired by the historic position taken by our
traditional leaders to work together in harmony with our elected leaders to
serve the people of South Africa.

I am certain that the masses of our people are happy that, in terms of our
relations, we have progressed far beyond the turf battles in which we engaged
in the years that have passed, as we grappled with the challenge to respond to
the situation new to all of us, created by the establishment of our
democracy.

As we work together in the years ahead, which include this Conference,
within the context of an agreed agenda, I have no doubt that each one of us,
and the constituencies we represent, will find just cause further to refine the
institutional setting within which we work. This should not frighten any among
us, or cause undue concern.

Together we must accept that our shared experience as we work together will
continue to serve as a good teacher, whose lessons we will have to assess and
accept together, informed by the realisation that what unites us is a common
commitment to work as servants of our people.

Now that we have reached the stage that we have in the evolution of our
relationship, as elected and traditional institutions, we must take the
important decision that we must implement all the programmes on which we have
already agreed, avoiding the temptation always to start new battles about one
thing or another, or to resurrect old and dead conflicts.

I am convinced that none of us will gain absolutely nothing from continuing
to wage battles and wars that are distinguished only by the fact that they are
battles and wars that we fought, once upon a time.

The institution of traditional leadership occupies a unique and important
place in our country. It is this unique and important role that makes our
traditional leaders such critical players in the reconstruction and development
of our country.

Elected government and the institution of Traditional Leadership share a
common objective informed by the commitment to serve the people and work with
these masses for their overall development.

The finalisation and publication of the White Paper on Traditional
Leadership and Governance, the coming into operation of the Traditional
Leadership and Governance Framework Act of 2003 (the Framework Act) and the
promulgation of the provincial laws emanating from the national Framework Act
concluded a significant phase of a long-term process intended to ensure that
the institution of traditional leadership takes its place as an active
participant in our system of democratic governance.

With the policy, legislative and programmatic framework now in operation,
the platform therefore exists for the institution of traditional leadership to
participate in the formulation and implementation of the programmes of the
national, provincial and local spheres of government, work in partnerships with
the elected governments, and contribute significantly to fighting poverty and
achieving sustainable livelihoods for the millions of our people who live in
the communal rural areas.

The Constitution, as well as our national and provincial legislation, forms
the basis for the transformation of the institution of traditional leadership
in accordance with the constitutional principles of democracy and equality, the
creation of partnerships that are aimed at development and the participation of
traditional leaders in the processes of democratic governance.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and express our sincere
appreciation for the commitment of our traditional leaders throughout the
country to forge, with the rest of government, a sustainable partnership for
the successful development of our country.

Equally, all structures of elected government are committed to work with our
traditional leaders to strengthen this partnership.

During this year, several meetings between the National House of Traditional
Leaders and the Presidency have taken place. Most recently and for the first
time, the National House met with the National Cabinet to examine the progress
and challenges facing our partnership, and discuss a national programme of
support for our traditional leaders.

As we take forward the outcomes of that meeting and what will emerge from
this Conference, it is important that both the traditional leaders and the
elected governments should prepare adequately for serious and involved
collaboration.

As we are aware, among other things the provisions of the new legal
framework require the transformation of the structures of the institution of
traditional leadership to provide for the representation and participation of
women in their own right, as well as provide for a democratically elected
component of these structures.

At least one third of members of these structures should be women. These
structures include traditional councils at local level and houses of
traditional leaders at district, provincial and national levels.

Embracing democratic principles, change and extending full participation to
women, membership of the youth and the disabled will make the institution of
traditional leadership further relevant to all members of society especially
during this transformation phase of this institution and our country. I am
convinced that as a consequence of all this, our people will more deeply
appreciate and increase their support for the institution of traditional
leadership.

Houses of traditional leaders at local, district, provincial and national
levels, will serve as the engine of the strategic partnership with our elected
structures of government. Accordingly, our traditional structures must play,
together with the different spheres of government, a critical role in the
implementation of laws and programmes that impact on communities within the
jurisdiction of institutions of traditional leadership.

Indeed, to enable our institution of traditional leadership to discharge its
mandate properly, our national government has set up an all-inclusive task team
to work on a government-wide national programme of support to deal with medium
to long-term issues of government support for our traditional leaders.

This programme outlines key areas of strategic intervention and support for
the whole institution, including individual traditional leaders, traditional
councils and local, provincial and national houses.

The programme also seeks to ensure that the legislation governing the
institution is correctly implemented. Further, the programme deals with issues
that address the manner in which government as a whole will provide meaningful
support to the institution of traditional leadership, as well as giving clarity
on the specific arm of government that would implement programmes and projects
flowing from Schedule 4 of the Constitution.

During the course of the discussions on this national support programme
questions arose as to how far individual Ministries and Departments have gone
with regard to the assignment of functions to the level of the institutions of
traditional leadership.

It may also be possible that national departments, other than those
envisaged in the Framework Act, may have developed programmes relating to, or
involving, the institution of traditional leadership.

Such programmes will be integrated in the national support programme for the
purpose of proper co-ordination. I am glad to announce that most of the
government departments, whose work impacts on our communal areas, are on board
with regard to this process. Hence, during this Conference, the relevant
Ministers will share their views with you on this crucial topic.

Your Majesties, Your Highnesses, our traditional leaders:

The following strategic priorities have been identified for intervention
through the national programme of support, signifying that we will:

* support the structures of the institution of Traditional Leadership
(Traditional leaders, Traditional Councils; and Houses of Traditional Leaders)
to improve governance, performance and accountability
* build the capacity of the institution of traditional leadership to promote
and enhance its involvement in the development processes of their
communities
* review and strengthen the existing policy and regulatory framework in order
to give more attention and support to the institution of traditional leadership
with respect to the implementation processes
* address the structure and governance arrangements of our democratic state as
a whole, the better to strengthen, support and assess the actual effectiveness
of the institution of traditional leadership, within the context of ensuring
the effectiveness of our system of governance as a whole.

Clearly, the strategic priorities listed above seek to give effect to
government's support of the institution of traditional leadership, as
contemplated in our Constitution and legislation. Again, various pieces of
legislation further refer to the role of traditional leadership in supporting
all spheres of government in service delivery and development.

Our national support programme therefore seeks to highlight the main areas
of strategic focus in ensuring that all structures within the institution of
traditional leadership are fully functional and effective with regard to their
role in terms of service delivery and the sustained development of our
communities.

In this regard, the main focus areas of this programme for implementation in
2007 will be the following:

* allocation of the necessary resources, both human and material
* skills development
* the involvement of the institution of traditional leadership in our
development processes
* the formation of partnerships between the municipalities and traditional
councils in order to speed up service delivery and development in areas that
fall within the jurisdiction of our institutions of traditional leadership.

In discharging its role of co-ordination and management of this
constitutionally concurrent function, the Department of Provincial and Local
Government and other national government departments will work closely with the
provinces, to ensure the effective implementation of this programme, and give
advice and support to the institution of traditional leadership, with a view to
promoting a coherent approach towards the transformation of the institution,
the optimal use of resources and its positive contribution to service delivery
and development.

This programme of support has already been presented to and supported by the
Local Government MinMec and Cabinet. To finalise the development of the
programme, further consultations will take place in the New Year with all
traditional leaders and other role-players.

In closing, I would like to emphasise that it is the firm resolve of
government to help transform as well as give all necessary support to the
institution of traditional leadership, as well as accelerate the involvement of
our traditional leaders and institutions in government programmes and
initiatives.

I believe that this Conference will achieve the goals it has itself, as
espoused in the theme of the Conference. I am also convinced that the
achievement of these goals will contribute to the realisation of the goal of a
better life for all, especially the millions of our people in rural South
Africa.

On behalf of our government and in my own name, I wish you success in your
deliberations during this important Conference.

As I end, I would also like to wish everybody present a Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year, and urge you to respect and propagate the message to Arrive
Alive! I thank you most sincerely for your kind attention.

Issued by: The Presidency
14 December 2006