Jubie Matlou
Paramount Chief Kgagudi Kenneth Sekhukhune of Bapedi-ba-Marota in the Northern Province walked slowly into a hall packed with chiefs from all corners of his kingdom to listen to deliberations regarding the role of traditional leaders after the December 5 local government elections.
The blind monarch, firmly clenching his walking stick, was flanked by a royal court elder. He took a front seat and sat quietly and unmoved as one chief after the other lambasted the government’s position on the future role of traditional leaders.
The introduction of municipal councils is a new concept to many rural areas that for years have been ruled by traditional authorities a measure that has generated a lot of opposition from traditional leaders. As for the Sekhukhune chiefs, they are sticking to their guns: each traditional authority should have the powers of a municipal council as well.
The Sekhukhune Regional Authority sits once every quarter to discuss issues that matter to a kingdom that historically is said to have stretched from the Lebombo ranges in the east to Thabazimbi in the west, and the Vaal in the south to the Limpopo in the north.
Despite the chiefs’ overwhelming rejection of the introduction of the municipal council system in their jurisdiction, Sekhukhune downplayed the power struggle during an interview with the Mail & Guardian.
“The differences between the chiefs and the municipalities are to a large extent symbolic whereby each party seeks to steal the limelight for credit regarding delivery of basic services to the community,” Sekhukhune said.
He, however, pointed out that unlike urban areas, land in the rural areas belongs to the community, and the chiefs act as custodians on the use of land on behalf of the community.
“The local councils should, therefore, consult the chiefs when development projects around land are to be undertaken,” he said.
Sekhukhune’s views tally with those of Kgaole Mafiri, chair of the Ngwaritsi-Makhudu-Thamaga Transitional Local Council. Mafiri takes a conciliatory approach on how his council would interact with the 28 chiefs who rule the 91 villages around Nebo and Jane Furse.
Mafiri explains that before the establishment of local councils in the area in 1995, traditional authorities were the focal point for any developmental project. Chiefs used to provide the necessary permission for the acquisition of residential sites for, say, newlywed couples, and officials of the Department of Agriculture would cut out the stands according to standard specifications.
With regard to water supplies, chiefs used to approach the Department of Water Affairs to install boreholes that would serve different communities. The department was responsible for maintaining the water supply systems and any problems would be relayed to the department through the tribal authority.
Under the new municipality system traditional leaders will still play an important role in the delivery of basic services, but in conjunction with local councils.
“A potential homeowner needs a letter from a traditional authority to apply for a residential site to the local council. If the council approves such an application, the Department of Agriculture is then instructed to cut out a site for occupation,” Mafiri said.
Mafiri said the first five years of his council were devoted to project proposals such as the provision of bulk water, storm drainage and solid waste dis- posal. For example, the Department of Water Affairs has been approached to supply water to the edge of the villages, and the council would then use the provincial government grants to reticulate the water supply into the villages.
“After reticulation, the council will introduce cost recovery systems and people are expected to pay for the services they receive. Firstly, the council will install communal taps in a particular area or street, and a flat rate will be charged to all households that are being served,” he said.
“However, individual households are required to bear the costs of bringing water into their yards. In that case the council will install meters to measure consumption and the billing thereof will be based on the level of consumption.”
Mafiri cites the villages ruled by chiefs Sekwati and Kgoloko as case studies to illustrate the cooperation between the council and the traditional authorities. Water reticulation in the two areas has been installed and the billing for consumption is expected to start by next February.
“The two chiefs were consulted and taken on board during all the stages of the water supply project. To date everything is on track and has the blessings of the traditional authorities in the area.”
The Ngwaritsi-Makhudu-Thamaga council has also embarked on a low-cost housing project, supported by the Department of Housing subsidy. More than 500 houses have been built and about 3 000 people are on the waiting list. All the houses have water and electricity, and the billing for these services is to resume after the official handover ceremony next month.
Meanwhile, an impasse between the govern-ment and traditional leaders nationally continues without any solution in sight ahead of the elections. Last week a legislative proposal that provided for the role of traditional leaders in the municipal councils fell through the cracks. The Bill to amend the Municipal Structures Act, which was scheduled for an extraordinary parliamentary sitting last Friday, was cancelled after it was discovered that the proposed legislation was not put through the procedure required by the Constitution on its way to the National Assembly.
New bills must be published for public comment before being tabled in Parliament. Moreover, before it can be approved by Parliament, the Bill needs the blessing of all nine provinces. As a result, Parliament will consider the bill only in the new year.