The Relationship between Traditional Leaders and Rural Local Municipalities in South Africa: With Special Reference to Legislations Governing Local Government

The dynamics of traditional leaders’ relationship with municipal councillors and service delivery

“…• The involvement of traditional leaders in the national assembly or in the process of provincial legislature through the national or provincial house of traditional leaders (Mashau et al 2014). • Ward councillors and traditional leaders must collaborate at the municipal level, particularly through participation in structures such as school governing bodies, Integrated Development Plan (IDP) Forums, ward committees, and other local participatory structures that will allow them to have an impact on decisions (Mashau et al 2014).…”

“…The advent of democracy in South Africa in 1994 posed numerous challenges for the postapartheid government, fuelling conflict between traditional leaders and democratic government structures (Mawere et al 2022;Sithole & Mbele 2008). In some areas, power was and still is contested between local councils and traditional leaders (Mashau, Mutshaeni & Kone 2014). The power disparity between traditional leaders and councillors is a concern for the local government's developmental focus; even though service delivery is urgently needed by the people they serve, the municipality and traditional authorities are occasionally unable to agree.…”

“…and Perry (1996), cited in Baloyi (2016:32), 'poor relationships between traditional leaders and municipal councils are due to the degree of representation, with respect to societal opinions and the degree of interest representation'. Mashau et al (2014), on the other hand, posit that the authority and responsibilities of municipalities in rural regions often overlap with those of traditional authorities. Therefore, traditional leaders are concerned that, because local governments are merely operational entities, they will lose influence, implying the end of traditional authorities (Rugege 2003).…”

“…Therefore, traditional leaders are concerned that, because local governments are merely operational entities, they will lose influence, implying the end of traditional authorities (Rugege 2003). Furthermore, some local council leaders believe they are more influential than traditional leaders, whereas traditional leaders consider themselves to be born royalty, superior to local council leaders, and as such, born leaders (Mashau et al 2014). In addition, traditional institutions are not responsible for strategic community development mandates, which are placed in the hands of the three spheres of government.…”

The role of traditional leadership in disaster management and disaster risk governance: A case of Ugu District Municipality by-laws

“…In addition, 40% of the traditional council members is democratically elected by the community members to join the 60% that is appointed by Inkosi. This structure is assigned developmental functions (Knoetze 2014:180; Mashau, Mutshaeni & Kone 2014:221). These members together with the other non-paid members of the hierarchy can be best utilised as ‘volunteers’ because they are already in existence and recognised in the community.…”