National Assembly passes the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Bill
The National Assembly today considered and agreed to the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Bill following the passing of the TKLB as amended on 10 January 2019 National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
The Bill was referred to the NCOP after its Second Reading Debate in the National Assembly which took place on 7 November 2017. Following amendments by NCOP, the CoGTA Portfolio Committee considered the TKLB on 13 February 2019 ahead of final consideration by the NA.
In addition, the Bill went through a process of extensive public hearings and stakeholder engagements during 2015, 2016 and 2017 led by the CoGTA Portfolio Committee. The Committee further improved the Bill through amendments and finalised it in October 2017. During 2018, the CoGTA Select Committee and provincial legislatures considered the Bill making further amendments and finalising on 4 December 2018.
The Bill is intended to address key issues:
- to consolidate the existing national legislation relating to traditional leadership and to address the shortcomings of such legislation in order to improve the implementation thereof.
- to make provision for the first time ever for the statutory recognition of the Khoi-San communities and leaders.
- to provide for Khoi-San structures similar to those of traditional communities and for recognised Khoi-San leaders to become members of the houses of traditional leaders which will in future be known as houses of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders.
Following the final passing of the Bill by the National Assembly today, 26 February 2019, it will be referred to the President for assent. It will thereafter be published in the Government Gazette as a new law. However, it should be noted that the Bill will not come into operation on the date it is published in the Gazette. The commencement date will be determined through a Presidential proclamation.
One of the reasons for this relates to the Commission on Khoi-San Matters provided for in the Bill. This Commission will play a crucial role in assisting government with the recognition process of the Khoi-San communities and leaders. Since the Bill contains timeframes within which applications for such recognition may be lodged, it is important to finalise certain preparations before the new law comes into operation and the Commission commences with its work. This is to ensure that communities and leaders who may apply for recognition are not disadvantaged by the statutory timeframes.
The preparatory work in respect of the Commission will be done in accordance with the provisions of section 14 of the Interpretation Act, 1957. The section states that where a law confers a power to, amongst others, make any appointment (such as the appointment of members of the Commission), “… that power may … be exercised at any time after the passing of the law so far as may be necessary for the purpose of bringing the law into operation at the commencement thereof...”
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Musa Zondi
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