Houses of traditional leaders

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The Houses of traditional leaders are bodies in South Africa on different levels. Its members usually belong to traditional ruling dynasties.

Basics

During the apartheid period , traditional rulers, mostly traditional authorities , played an important role. Under the Black Authorities Act 68 of 1951, they were subordinate to communities of blacks, but were financially and politically dependent on the authorities.

The position of the traditional representations is guaranteed by Chapter 12 of the South African constitution of 1996. The transitional constitution negotiated by CODESA had previously defined the role of the traditional authorities .

The Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act of 2003 regulates the structure of traditional representation . In the South African cabinet, the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs ( e.g. Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs ) is responsible for the bodies. Since 2018 this has been Zweli Mkhize ( African National Congress ).

Bodies

The National House of Traditional Leaders (NHTL) consists of 23 members, including the Chairperson , Inkosi Sipho E. Mahlangu since 2017 . Seven of the nine provinces send three members each, Gauteng two members and Western Cape no members. They are elected by electoral bodies of the Provincial Houses of traditional leaders . The body was founded in 1997; until 1998 it was designated as the National Council of Traditional Leaders . The term of office is usually five years. In 2017 the NHTL held two Indabas . In 2018 President Cyril Ramaphosa opened the reinstated fifth National House of Traditional Leaders . The venue is a house on the corner of Pretorius Street and Steve Biko Street in the capital Pretoria .

Provincial Houses of traditional leaders can be found in the seven of the nine provinces, namely in Eastern Cape , Free State , KwaZulu-Natal , Limpopo , Mpumalanga , Northwest (also known as Bokone Bophirima) and North Cape . The San in the North Cape Province received traditional representation in 2017. The traditional provincial representatives play a role especially in rural areas.

Local Houses of traditional leaders should have five to ten members. They are to be elected in districts and metropolitan parishes that have more than one senior (senior) traditional leader.

All members of the Houses receive a salary. Members of the houses can be kings / queens, principals or senior traditional leaders or headmen / headwomen .

tasks

The powers of the committees cover the design and application of customary law (Customary Law) and the relationships between them. The National House of Traditional Leaders is consulted on legislative proposals that affect their competencies. In doing so, the body has to orient itself towards the constitutional framework and is not allowed to engage in party politics. According to the preamble of the relevant law, the committees are obliged to “restore the integrity and legitimation of the institutions of traditional leadership in terms of customary law and its practices”. The values ​​of democracy, including gender equality, are to be increasingly promoted , and nation-building is to be promoted.

In 2008, for example, the NHTL declared the wearing of mini skirts compatible with the customs of the country and thus condemned the attack on a woman who had been assaulted by men for wearing a mini skirt.

The National House of Traditional Leaders publishes an annual report.

Others

The Provincial House of Traditional Leaders KwaZulu-Natal is involved in the selection of the board members of the Ingonyama Trust , which is run by the Zulu royal family and manages extensive estates of the former homeland of KwaZulu .

See also

literature

  • Lulamile Ntonzima, Mohamed Sayeed Bayat: The role of traditional leaders in South Africa - a relic of the past, or a contemporary reality? In: Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review. Vol. 1, No. January 6, 2012. Digitized

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The history of traditional authorities. University of Pretoria (PDF), accessed June 18, 2018
  2. ^ Republic of South Africa: The South African Constitution, Chapter 12. justice.gov.za, accessed May 24, 2018
  3. ↑ a b c d The role of traditional leaders in a constitutional democracy. cogta.gov.za, accessed May 24, 2018
  4. ↑ Nelson Mandela Foundation : O'Malley Archives: Traditional Authorities , accessed May 24, 2018
  5. ↑ a b c d e Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act of 2003 , legal text at acts.co.za (English), accessed on May 24, 2018
  6. ↑ Ikosi Mahlangu elected new chairperson of national house. mpumalanganews.co.za, accessed May 26, 2018
  7. ↑ Nomfundo Xuza: The National House of Traditional Leaders officially dissolved. cogta.gov.za of August 17, 2018 (English), accessed on May 26, 2018
  8. ↑ National House of Traditional Leaders 2018. cogta.gov.za of February 26, 2018 (English), accessed on May 27, 2018
  9. ^ Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders reconstituted successfully. cogta.gov.za from October 20, 2017 (English), accessed on May 28, 2018
  10. ↑ Customs allow Miniskirts, say traditional leaders. Mail & Guardian dated February 27, 2008, accessed May 25, 2018