Upholding Traditional Leadership in South Africa’s North West Province

In recent years, the North West Province has taken significant strides in recognizing the importance of traditional leaders and their role in the region’s cultural framework. This commitment has been spearheaded by MEC Nono Maloyi, the official responsible for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs.

A Pledge to Support Traditional Leadership

During the 2023/2024 Budget Speech, MEC Maloyi made a clear commitment to support traditional leadership in the province. To demonstrate this support, a special working session was held in April, where traditional leaders and relevant stakeholders came together to address their concerns. Follow-up sessions will be scheduled to assess progress.

Ex-Gratia Payment and Dispute Resolution

One of the issues raised by Members of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders was the ex-gratia payment due for their service during the 2017/22 term. MEC Maloyi promised that these payments would be processed during the second quarter of the current financial year.

To address traditional leadership disputes, MEC Maloyi introduced a new policy. According to this policy, disputes must first be presented to the Provincial House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders before being referred to the MEC. This procedure aims to reinforce the House’s role in addressing such conflicts.

An investigative committee has also been established under Section 59 of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act, 2019. This committee will investigate disputes within traditional communities and work towards expediting the resolution process.

Challenges and Future Plans

Despite the efforts made, MEC Maloyi expressed concerns over “forum-shopping complainants” who seek to revive disputes across different government administrations. This habit poses a challenge to achieving lasting resolutions.

Moreover, the reconstitution of traditional councils has been suspended due to a dispute between traditional leaders and the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. The National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders is addressing this issue and will report back to the Minister in August.

The North West Province government’s commitment to traditional leadership is evident through their active engagement with traditional leaders and their efforts to address their concerns. These developments signify a significant milestone in recognizing the value that traditional leadership holds in South African society.