The draft Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Bill goes a long way towards resolving the vexed question of the role and place of traditional leadership under the new democratic dispensation, according to Contralesa.

This was noted in the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa's (Contralesa) submission to the National Assembly's provincial and local government committee, which is holding public hearings on the bill this week.

Contralesa president Patekile Holomisa said in spite of reservations the congress had about some provisions, it noted "with appreciation" the bill gave recognition to the institution of traditional leadership as an organ of state with a role to play in the country's governance.

Contralesa believed traditional authorities should be recognised as structures of local government in their own right in traditional community areas, he said.

"The transformation and democratisation of traditional authorities should be a prerequisite for such recognition".

Thus, traditional authorities should be composed of traditional leaders and traditionally and democratically elected councillors, some of who represented women and the youth.

Contralesa was in principle not opposed to the establishment of elected municipal councils with jurisdiction over traditional community areas, provided that, where possible, all heads of traditional authorities were full members of such councils.

Holomisa said the bill purported to define, among other things, the roles and functions of traditional leaders in the various spheres of government, not just the local sphere.

"Strangely though, the bill does not provide for the powers of traditional leaders in any of their structures," he said.

The national, provincial, and district houses of traditional leaders, as well as the traditional councils, should be provided with powers and adequate resources to enable them to carry out their functions in a meaningful way.

Regarding the new municipal boundaries, he said these had been demarcated in ways, which caused "a lot of distress" to many traditional communities and leaders.

Traditional boundaries had been violated, with the result that confusion reigned in the countryside with people who were supposed to do things together being thrown apart.

The Municipal Boundaries Demarcation Board would do well to revisit the matter, and demarcate boundaries in ways, which did not divide and separate single traditional communities, Holomisa said. – Sapa.