Limpopo CoGHSTA MEC Makoma Makhurupetje emphasises the importance of traditional leaders in government.
The winds of change that swept through the country in 1994 brought about changes, but they also seemed to interfere with the role and powers of traditional leaders.
Before the 1995 local government election that ushered in the era of councilors, traditional leaders, even with their powers curbed by the apartheid administration, wielded sole control over their communities.
They served as the first point of call for family disputes, community issues and allocation of land.
“I grew up knowing that before you even take a matter to the police, you take it to mošate,” MEC for Limpopo’s Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) told the Mail and Guardian Critical Thinking Forum recently.
Like many of the province’s citizens, Makhurupetje grew up under the rule of traditional leadership in Ramotshinyadi, a rural village located in the picturesque area of Letaba in the north east of Limpopo.
The constitution of Transitional Local Councils which followed after the 1995 elections brought with it new challenges for magoši, who now found themselves on the sidelines of decisions being made regarding areas under their leadership.
Tensions brewed between councilors and traditional leaders over, among other issues, allocation of land for development. Once in charge, magoši now found themselves reduced to spectators in the transitional local councils where their constitutional mandate was only that of ex-officio status.
Although the relationship has improved greatly through the years, Kgoši Sešego Sekororo II of the Limpopo House of Traditional Leaders says there are still challenges.
Sekororo told the Mail & Guardian Critical Thinking Forum hosted in conjunction with Capricorn FM at Meropa Entertainment Casino in Polokwane recently, that “the participation of traditional leaders in municipal councils, is still a quagmire because nothing is happening there.”
He said although “there is some little bit of synergy between government and traditional leaders due to the participation in municipal councils, he called for magoši to be given more powers.
He said back in the 90s, the problem was that magoši were aggrieved that “these new kids on the block”, in reference to local government structures, had suddenly become their superiors.
Added to that, was the fact that councilors now enjoyed more benefits in terms of remuneration and perks as compared to magoši who had for years presided over their communities.
“Magoši have been around since time immemorial,” said Sekororo.
Makhurupetje told the Forum that CoGHSTA will soon embark on a public participation conference which will include ward councilors, ward committees, magoši, mayors and other government stakeholders to find a solution to iron out existing issues between the two structures.
Makhurupetje said the department will use the conference to try and understand how they can further harmonise the relationship between magoši and local government structures.
She said a good working relationship between the two spheres could help iron out some issues that lead to protests in the communities even before residents took to the streets.
Sekororo said constitutional changes should be explored to help unpack the issue of traditional leadership.
These, he said, includes government’s recognition of Communal Property Associations as the rightful owners of land in the process of land claims. Sekororo argued that the colonial powers dispossessed traditional leaders, and not individuals of their land, therefore traditional leaders should be the ones claiming the land on behalf of their subjects and not the other way around.
South African Local Government Association (Salga) chairperson Thembi Nkadimeng who is also the executive mayor of Polokwane Local Municipality, said a harmonised relationship between magoši and municipalities would have positive results.
She cited an instance in which land which falls under the jurisdiction of traditional leadership was sold for much less than what it should have been by a municipality which had excluded magoši from the sale.
Nkadimeng said the relationship between magoši and local government has evolved, resulting in better management of land and allocation of land under traditional leadership.
Political analyst Elvis Masoga decried the politicisation of traditional leaders or leadership as a source of potential conflict in communities.
“Any royal house should serve as a social glue that binds the community together,” said Masoga.
He said if a traditional leader becomes an active member of a political organisation, this will create conflict in the community as its members belong to diverse political parties.
“The moment you are appointed as a councillor, as a premier or as a president you are no longer a political head but a people’s leader,” said Masoga.
Masoga said there was a Constitutional failure from defining the role of traditional leaders and bureaucracy.
Sekororo also cited the issue of remuneration of magoši as a serious bone of contention among the royals. He charged that government was giving special treatment to Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini who enjoys a generous budget and services courtesy of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government.
But Makhurupetje warned that Zwelithini’s situation was the subject of agreements concluded during the multi-party talks that led to the country’s first democratic election in 1994.
However, she pointed out that the Limpopo provincial government was making great strides in ensuring that the institution of traditional leadership is restored and that the magoši’s needs are being taken care of.
“We must be able to see our municipalities delivering good service delivery in the province,” said Makhurupetje.
Makhurupetje told the M&G that significant progress has been attained in addressing the transitional matters for ensuring stability in municipalities.
“The most urgent outstanding matters to be finalised include naming of the new municipalities, enactment of rationalised by-laws and policies, finalisation of the placement and transfer of staff and development of the valuation roll and MPRA policies,” she said.
She said the coming few months will be even more hectic as we race to conclude the outstanding issues to ensure that all transitional matters are finalised by May 30 2017 to ensure that municipalities start the new financial year on a sound footing.
Makhurupetje acknowledged that there are still challenges in the Vuwani area, where some residents are refusing to be incorporated into the newly constituted Collins Chabane (LIM345) municipality.
“The new municipality has so far established governance and accountability structures, it has developed a draft certified valuation roll and recruitment process of senior managers is at an advanced stage and appointments will soon be concluded,” she said.
She said the target is to ensure that by the end of the 2017/18 financial year, the LIM 345 municipality must be fully established in the following areas in appointment of staff in critical areas, adoption of all legislated by-laws, policies and plans, completion of the valuation roll, development of infrastructure, systems and processes that will enable it to render services to the community, bill and collect revenue as well as developing plans for long-term infrastructure needs.
“We are committed as government, to work with the communities and stakeholders in Vuwani and other areas to ensure that the potential of the area is unlocked and service delivery matters are prioritised.”