Jaspreet Kindra A deal to allow traditional authorities to function as parallel local councils was being hammered out this week in an effort to break the deadlock between traditional leaders and the government threatening to postpone the local government elections. The discussion of the plan suggests the African National Congress has backed down from its original plan of relegating traditional leaders to a symbolic role. The traditional leaders have been arguing for a more participatory role in the new local government structures that come into effect after the municipal elections expected to be held next month. Sources within the ANC and the Inkatha Freedom Party say the government is increasingly aware of the power wielded by traditional leaders – and of their capacity to cause disruption. The announcement of the local government election date, scheduled for earlier this week, was also postponed as a result of the deadlock between traditional leaders (or amakhosi) and the government. According to sources involved in closed talks this week, the government is considering allowing the traditional authorities to function as they have done until now – and might even confer additional powers on the existing 87 regional traditional authorities in the country. The traditional leaders in turn are understood to have agreed to allow elections to be held in areas under their jurisdiction. Government legal experts were studying the proposal, which would necessitate an amendment to the Municipal Structures Act. A senior source involved in the talks said that the amendments are expected to be rushed through Parliament in the next few days. All parties are apparently in agreement that elections should be held next month. The current deadlock between traditional leaders and the government arose when the amakhosi turned down the government’s compromise offering to accommodate them. The compromise included an increase in the amakhosi’s representation from 10% to 20% in municipal councils and a review to identify additional responsibilities that could be assigned to them.