The purpose of this study was to examine aspects of rural local governance within the
democratic local government system in the Umgungundlovu, Umzinyathi, Uthukela and
Amajuba districts of KwaZulu-Natal. This study could feed into the management and
policy making systems of the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs of
the Province. It would also inform a practical traditional administration centre model. It
also intends to provoke a debate on issues of rural local governance in particular within
the democratic local government system in South Africa.
The study looked at the evolution of the institution of traditional leadership over the
years. Policy issues with regard to the functioning and structuring of traditional
leadership institutions in local governance were used as a basis for this discussion.
Different items of legislation relating to local government and traditional leadership in
South Africa generally and in KwaZulu-Natal in particular were analysed to give insight
into the issues of rural local governance. It was found that traditional leaders have
always worked hand in hand with government and that the government has and still is
making deliberate efforts to keep traditional leadership under its control by paying their
salaries and controlling all processes and systems in the functioning of traditional
authorities. National and Provincial policies were found to be giving government (both
National and Provincial) too much discretionary powers regarding the roles and
functions of traditional leaders.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs (DLGTA)
had transformed tribal courts into Traditional Administration Centres (TACs) in line with
the government's call to bring government services closer to the people. There are sixty four
TACs in the Umgungundlovu, Umzinyathi, Uthukela and Amajuba districts of
KwaZulu-Natal. This study reviews the level of functionality of these TACs over a period
of 6 months. The activities of all TACs were monitored and recorded daily for the
duration of the study. The study revealed that the TACs were generally not being used
to their full potential. A combination of well equipped centres coupled with motivated and
committed support staff is crucial for the effective functioning of TACs.
The
study also looked at different community centre models and compared them with
the traditional administration centre model to help develop a practical traditional
administration centre model. The study further recommends that TACs be linked to the
Multipurpose Community Centres (MPCCs) either as extensions or satellites thereof. In
terms of ownership, it is recommended that TACs be handed over to the local
municipalities in order to ensure proper maintenance and sustainability thereof.
As part of rural local governance, the study also investigated synergistic partnerships
between the institution of traditional leadership and municipalities. This was done
through focus group discussions with government officials, traditional councils, municipal
councillors and community members. The focus group discussions also revealed the
level of understanding on the roles of traditional councils and municipal councillors by
different groupings i.e. government officials, traditional councils, municipal councillors
and community members. The study concludes that conflict between traditional leaders
and municipal councillors is inevitable and that it is difficult but not impossible to form
functional linkages between the two. South Africa has seen remarkable improvements in
the transformation of the institution of traditional leadership in terms of composition,
functions and legal manifestations. There is a reasonable understanding on the roles of
municipal councillors but traditional councils seemed not to be clear about their roles
and policy issues in general. Many subjects believed that direct intervention by National
and Provincial governments was desirable if sound local governance was to be attained.
The study also recommends that agency agreements be entered into between
traditional councils and municipalities and between traditional councils and provincial
governments to allow traditional councils to perform certain functions on behalf of
government departments and municipalities. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/4479 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Ndlela, Rejoice Nomusa. |
| Contributors | Green, J. Maryann., Reddy, P. S. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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