Your Majesties
Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders, Kgosi Maubane
Deputy Chairperson of the House, Kgosigadi Mothapo
Chairperson of Traditional Disputes and Claims, Mr Tolo
Deputy Chairperson of Disputes and Claims, Dr Mndende
Senior traditional leaders
Ladies and gentlemen
Whilst this meeting takes place during the month of August, which is designated to highlight the important role played by women in the reconstruction and development of South Africa, we also wish to acknowledge the institution of traditional leadership, for the extremely important role you have played during the colonial and apartheid period. Through colonialism, our African heritage and culture have been destroyed, and as the custodians of African traditions, heritage and good governance, you have an extremely important role to play in the restoration of our heritage and culture.
You are also the progeny of the heroes who fought against the evil forces of colonialism and apartheid. Today, we are therefore delighted to be part of the momentous historical occasion where legal recognition is given to the role and status of your majesties in our political and legal system.
In 1912, the role played by some warrior Kings and Chiefs was recognised, the ANC accorded such leaders and people of our land Honorary President’s status and these were:
1. Montsia of the Barolong
2. Dalindyebo of AbaThembu
3. Lewanika of Barotseland ( part of Zambia)
4. Letsie II of Basotholand (Now called Lesotho)
5. Khama of Bochuanaland (now called Botswana)
6. King Dinizulu of AmaZulu
You will recall that on 29 July 2010, the President of the Republic of South Africa made a public announcement on the recognition of kings in South Africa, which means that you are not only acknowledged and recognised in terms of the inaugural conference of the ANC, customs and customary laws of your respective subjects, but also legally recognised in terms of the laws of South Africa.
In light of this recognition, government is determined to build a strong Institution of Traditional Leadership through cooperative governance and collaboration with other stakeholders and organs of state, and an event such as this presents an opportunity to reflect on key fundamental issues.
Firstly, how do we as a country, ensure that the institution of traditional leadership and communities occupy strategic positions within our democratic system, especially at provincial and local level? How do we ensure the involvement of the institution in government programmes and allow it to contribute towards job creation and the improvement of the quality of life of the majority of our people?How do we ensure that our democratic system operates efficiently and recognises the existence of the traditional system of governance? How do we build a symbiotic relationship between the two systems of governance? How do traditional institutions give expression to the democratic ethos and practice of our country and the development of our children and youth as leaders of tomorrow?
Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme emphasised unity of traditional leaders and their people, when he asserted amongst others, that the Chiefs urged him to initiate the formation of the South African Native Congress- which later became the African National Congress.
The answer to these critical questions will define the relevance of the institution of traditional leadership and communities in the current social, political and economic environment. In the same breath, any public representatives tasked with the mammoth responsibility of serving the public, must be guided by principles of good governance.
Unity among Africans, Nyambose (Seme) advocated the same view when he said, “the demon of racialism, the aberrations of the Mfengu- Xhosa feud, the animosity between amaZulu and amaTonga, between Basotho and any other native must be buried and forgotten; it has shed among us sufficient blood. We are one people; these jealousies are the cause of all our woes.
One of the important things that Kings have to consider is good governance. The principles of good governance include, among others the following:
- Accountability – accountability to government, the structures of traditional leaders and their rural communities
- Fostering unity – fostering unity among traditional leaders, houses, different ethnic groups, and with structures of government
- Promotion of service delivery – this can be done through cooperation and building partnerships between structures of traditional leadership and provincial and local governments
- Clarification of roles – the clarification of roles between traditional leadership and government structures, through the amendment of legislation and allocation of roles to traditional leaders by government departments, will go a long way in ensuring that development and service delivery is promoted
- Transparency – transparency in terms of leadership, and the utilisation of financial and other resources.
Upholding and promoting these principles of good governance by the institution of traditional leadership will ensure that the institution always sets a good example to traditional communities and elected government structures.
Despite the challenges, a lot of ground has been covered since 2010. One of the achievements of this government under the leadership of President Zuma is the establishment of the Department of Traditional Affairs. President Zuma established this department because of the political will of himself and his administration. Furthermore, the President was responding to the guide by the African National Congress’s forebears like Pixley Ka Isaka Seme. As you would recall, the establishment of the Department of Traditional Affairs was as a result of constant and persistent calls by traditional leaders over the years for a dedicated focus on matters of the institution of traditional leadership and communities.
With the establishment of the Department of Traditional Leadership, matters of the institution of traditional leadership are being dealt with more broadly, and a major responsibility of this department is to reclaim the vast ground lost to other departments and structures. This includes issues of heritage, traditional medicine and healing, and indigenous knowledge systems, just to mention a few examples.
The new department will, in a structured manner, engage robustly with other national departments and organs of state, to ensure that it plays a leading coordinating role on all matters relevant to the development of the institution of traditional leadership.
The new department together with the National House of Traditional Leaders has just completed the assessment of the state of governance within the area of traditional affairs in various provinces. The assessment exercise seeks to establish the current situation in various provinces on issues such as the budget allocated to the institution of traditional leadership, resources allocated to houses, the relationship between the structures of the institution of traditional leadership and local government, relationships among structures of traditional leadership, and the implementation of legislation on traditional leadership.
This assessment process will help identify the discrepancies between provinces in dealing with the institution of traditional leadership, with a view of devising an effective intervention strategy to deal with identified challenges. The intervention strategy will among others result in the development of a partnership model between traditional leadership and local government, and the discrepancies with regard to the salaries and resources of traditional leadership will also be addressed.
The National House of Traditional Leaders, Provincial and Local Houses, Contralesa, Mayors, Speakers, Councillors as well as traditional councils have been part of this assessment process, and have assisted government to establish the current environment in which the institution operates.
Later this year, the President of the Republic of South Africa will be meeting the traditional leaders and councilors to reaffirm constructive relations between government and the institution. This Presidential Summit is intended to accelerate service delivery and job creation.
The assessment of the state of governance within the area of traditional affairs will furthermore bring about much needed insight to inform and enhance the engagement with councilors during the summit.
Additionally, further work has already been done that will also assist the summit. For example, a Memorandum of Understanding has been concluded between the National House and South African Local Government Association (SALGA), and a draft implementation plan has been developed, which will be taken further during the summit later in the year. Furthermore, we have been informed that there is a video that is currently being developed. The importance of this video is that it singles out pockets of best practice and excellence in terms of local economic development, and concrete and constructive partnerships between local government, provincial government and traditional leaders.
We want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces for setting this best practice. Let us learn from each other so that we build a strong, responsive and vibrant institution of traditional leadership.
The Department of Traditional Affairs, with its expanded mandate, is in the process of amending legislation that will ensure that matters of the institution of traditional leadership are dealt with holistically. The amendment of the said pieces of legislation will also ensure that traditional affairs as a whole, rather than only traditional leaders, will take centre stage. The Khoi-San, who for many years have been marginalised, will also be fully represented in all structures of government.
The Department of Traditional Affairs continues to give strategic and dedicated support to the National House, the Commission on the Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, and the Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims Commission.
Whilst a great deal of work has been done, the process remains ongoing. Outstanding work includes the establishment of the Kings’ Councils, Kings’ Forums, the reconstitution of traditional councils in some provinces and the establishment of local houses. With the establishment of the new Department of Traditional Affairs, and the establishment of provincial departments with a similar mandate, we have no doubt that these challenges will also be dealt with successfully.
The issue of the budget and tools of trade for the kings has been raised with us. Traditional Leaders are Public Office Bearers. Therefore, issues of tools of trade and budgets are handled by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers, Chaired by Judge Seriti. The National House of Traditional Leaders has been engaging the Commission on the tools of trade and benefits of traditional leaders (a copy of a letter from the Independent Commission is in the packages distributed to the Kings).
In closing, we ask that we join our hands and build vibrant and self-sufficient traditional communities, and in so doing restore our African heritage and culture to its rightful place.
We need to always remember Seme’s wise words that “we are one people.”
I thank you.
