Today we are here to consolidate and address challenges that may have arisen along the way so that we can develop supporting programmes to enable the local governance structures to give full effect to the notion of developmental local government.
This summit is not about mourning and finger-pointing but about providing solutions to improve our working relations and avoid tensions that often hinder progress and development particularly in rural communities.
It is our view that since time immemorial the institution of traditional leadership was always progressive in nature and character. It was never an antithesis of the democratic principle. It was the forces of colonialism and imperialism that undermined the progressiveness of the institution of traditional leadership instead of harnessing it.
We have a firm belief that the institution of traditional leadership can contribute immensely in promoting human dignity, achievement of equality and non-sexism. These are the most important principles and values contained in the legislation aimed at restoring the dignity of the institution of traditional leadership.
Our legislative regime as a country brings an innovative way of involving the institution of traditional leadership in the activities of local government for the common purposes of contributing collectively in bettering the lives of our people.
A partnership between municipalities and traditional councils, District Municipalities and Local Houses of traditional leaders, Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders and Provincial Government as well as the National House of Traditional Leaders and the National Government should be promoted.
This is in line with the principles of cooperative governance. In addition progress has been made in providing Amakhosi with tools of trade so that they can play their developmental role effectively. Clearly, the institution of traditional leadership has been given a platform to contribute expertise and leadership for faster growth and development in communities.
This summit must therefore emerge with a clear framework to guide the interaction of these two institutions of governance. The terms of engagement and reference have to be clear from the onset so that we can prevent unnecessary confrontations in the future.
A healthy synergistic relationship between traditional leaders and elected councillors is a necessary condition in order to achieve sustainable service delivery in areas under Amakhosi, especially with regard to the identified service delivery backlogs in respect of the basic services like water, sanitation, housing, energy supply and health care.
For municipalities to render services effectively and efficiently, they require the partnership and the cooperation of Amakhosi within their areas of jurisdiction.
Our legislative regime has introduced critical changes and indeed the institution has been given space to flourish and develop in accordance with the demands of the new democratic, non- racial, non-sexist and prosperous society.
With all the policy and legislative frameworks in place, we believe the platform has now been opened to enable the institution of traditional leadership to contribute significantly to the fight against poverty and ensure sustainable delivery of services for the millions of our traditional communities. We believe this will work and we must make it work so that we realise the dream of a better life for all in our life time.
These are exciting times when, for the first time in over three hundred years, we have an opportunity to build a South Africa of our dreams. Now is the time to build a South Africa that many of our leaders some of them Kings, Queens, traditional leaders and local development activists spent their life fighting for.
The nature and form of cooperation between municipalities and traditional leaders is, by and large, dictated to us by the law.
In terms of the Municipal Systems Act traditional leaders must be consulted on municipal IDPs. The Disaster Management Plans of municipalities must assign a role for traditional leaders.
Section 73 of the Structures Act indicates that municipalities must, when constituting ward committees, take “into account the need for a diversity of interests in the ward, to be represented”.
Section 81(3) of the Structures Act recognises the position, and preserves the integrity, of the traditional leader of a specific area. Sections 25(3) and 28(2) of the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act of 2005, allow traditional leaders, whenever necessary, to participate in municipal intergovernmental forums when relevant issues come up for discussion.
Traditional leaders could also lead Land Administration Committees in terms of the Communal Land Rights Act No. 11 of 2004. Unfortunately this law was adjudged to be unconstitutional based on a legal technicality of wrong tagging in parliament. The list, of course, goes beyond this.
The law requires that municipalities work together with traditional leaders. The bodies which will work on a routine or daily basis with municipalities are traditional councils and local houses of traditional leaders.
What councillors and traditional leaders have to do is to uphold the law at all times, to support one another and to integrate their plans and strategies. Councillors should also participate actively in traditional gatherings. Participation, it must always be borne in mind, is a two-way process. Councillors and traditional leaders must always be seen to be fully supportive of the country’s constitutional and legal framework.
It is also important to note, in this regard, that South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and the National House of Traditional Leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which they pledged cooperation and the development of the capacity of traditional leadership. SALGA and the National House entered into a more detailed MOU. This MOU identifies areas of cooperation. These are:
- sharing of information, knowledge and experience by way of attending either party’s workshops, conferences, etc
- developing a mechanism of bringing traditional leaders and councillors closer to each other
- strategies on participation of traditional leaders in municipalities
- facilitating improved cooperation between traditional leaders and councillors
- establishing the training needs of people in rural communities
- facilitating effective participation of traditional leaders in the municipal governance processes like the Integrated Development Plans (IDPs), LED and Ward Committees and
- facilitating regular meetings between the Mayoral Committees and Traditional Leaders.
What has been outlined above underscores the point that at legislative and policy levels government has invested heavily in the strengthening of local governance and putting in place mechanisms to ensure that the structure of traditional leadership and municipalities work cooperatively together for accelerated development.
For more information contact:
Regi Khumalo (Media Liaison)
Cell: 079 751 6108
E-mail: regi.khumalo@yahoo.com
Ndabezinhle Sibiya (Spokesperson)
Cell: 082 3754742
E-mail: sibiyand@premier.kzntl.gov.za
