authorities
6 February 2009
The Gauteng Department of Local Government has pledged to continue its
support towards the functionality of the two traditional authorities inherited
following the re-determination of boundaries.
With the re-determination of municipal boundaries, Gauteng inherited two
chiefs Chief Mahlangu and Chief Kekana, therefore the Gauteng Department of
Local Government was tasked to oversee the Traditional Leaders Affairs.
Under the theme, "Broadening our horizon and bettering the lives of the
rural communities," the two-day indaba was addressed by various speakers
including Gauteng Local Government MEC Qedani Dorothy Mahlangu who assured the
Amakhosi that the department would do everything in its power to support
traditional authorities.
Mahlangu said traditional authorities have a big role to play in a province
like Gauteng which prides itself as the economic hub of the country and the
continent at large. She said the establishment of these traditional authorities
will go a long way in assisting government to reach people living in poverty in
the rural areas.
"These traditional authorities came at the right time when our government is
prioritising rural development and fighting poverty as key aspect of developing
our people. Together with them, government will be able to develop many rural
areas in which some of these traditional leaders leave in."
"I have given an undertaking that as the department responsible for
traditional affairs in the province we will give the Amakhosi all the necessary
support to ensure that they become functional and sustainable institutions of
governance in our province," she said.
She further called on traditional leaders to actively participate in local
government, firstly as members of the communities and secondly as members of
the traditional councils.
With regard to the draft framework and bill on traditional leadership, the
MEC said once approved, it will give further impetus on the direction which
these authorities should take in order to perform their duties with no major
problems that might hamper their success.
"We have developed the Traditional Leaders Framework and Bill that is
seeking innovative ways in respect of defining the relationship between local
government structures and Traditional Leaders and Traditional Communities. We
have also facilitated inputs into the Bill in consultation with our Traditional
Leaders," Mahlangu added.
The two-day indaba was organised by the Gauteng Department of Local
Government to educate stakeholders about policies and acts that regulate and
govern the functioning of the traditional leadership.
According to the provincial government status report on traditional
leadership, the newly established traditional councils must familiarise
themselves with local government planning such as integrated development
plans(IDPs) to ensure that they play a key role in developing the lives of the
people.
The report declares that given its role of supporting the local government,
traditional leadership capacity should be strengthened in order to fulfil its
legislative mandate.
South African Local Government (SALGA)-Gauteng Deputy CEO Tomsie Dlamini
assured traditional authorities of SALGA's commitment in ensuring that
traditional authorities interfaces with local government, especially
municipalities.
She said it was important to for the Congress of Traditional Leaders of
South Africa and SALGA to ensure that issues of traditional leadership are put
high on the agenda as traditional leaders have a wide-range of
constituency.
"Traditional Leaders should help government to implement its policies
through regular interaction with residents in their localities. We must take
advantage of the respect traditional leaders possess in their areas and use the
platform to engage communities from time to time to identify gaps which needs
critical intervention mostly in rural areas in our province," Dlamini said.
The indaba discussed several ways to assist Traditional Leaders to position
themselves to play a meaningful role on governance issues on both local and
provincial levels. Delegates also discussed ways to improve the working
relations and ensure that a better co-operation exist between all the
institutions of traditional leadership and local government.
Traditional Leaders and their subjects were inducted on various government
programmes including the municipal Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) and the
Community Development (CDW) programmes.
It was attended by various stakeholders from national, provincial and local
government including Amakhosi from provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal, Free State,
Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West.
For more information, contact:
Themba Sepotokele
Tel: 011 355 5111
Cell: 082 490 9869
Cell: 082 828 7940
Issued by: Department of Local Government, Gauteng Provincial
Government
6 February 2009
