Government will pass a law before the end of the year, which will outline the function of traditional leaders in the local government system.

The passing of the law is expected to close the final chapter on the roles and powers of traditional leaders in the country.

Addressing delegates at a two-day national conference on ward committees in Midrand, near Johannesburg today, provincial and local government minister Sydney Mufamadi hinted that he would present to Cabinet tomorrow, both a White Paper and a Bill on the roles and powers of the leaders.

"We are seeking Cabinet’s permission to publish that Bill for public comment so that we may be in a position to ensure that in the course of this year, we pass through Parliament, the national framework legislation dealing with the issue," he asserted. Cabinet, which meets fortnightly, is meeting in Cape Town tomorrow to discuss the White Paper and Bill as well as other national and international matters affecting the country. Government has consistently reassured the leaders of their place and role in the new municipal system saying that unlike in the past where traditional leaders were abused under apartheid, the Constitution recognises their important role in society and the country’s politics.

Minister Mufamadi said municipalities would be evaluated on how far they had gone to accommodate traditional leaders in their municipal councils. "Rural municipalities’ performance will be judged by what they do to ensure that traditional leaders are partners in development," said Mufamadi. He however dismissed reports that while the nation would be celebrating a decade of democracy and freedom next year, the leaders would have little or nothing to rejoice about. He explained that government had, since the dawn of democracy, had contributed immensely to the development of traditional authorities and rural villages by building clinics, schools, roads, as well as extending water, electricity and monthly social grants to the disabled, the elderly, children and indigent rural households. Government, through the public works department and provincial governments, was continuously upgrading and building palaces for traditional leaders in all provinces, particularly in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. "I think we have something to celebrate," he said. Deputy President Jacob Zuma recently said there was no law that intended to do away with traditional leadership, but instead authorities were formulating a law that would ensure the joint existence of elected leaders and traditional leaders. "We should not assume that there is hatred towards traditional leaders when laws are formulated to determine how best government can work together with them," he advised.

He said the apartheid system undermined the existence of traditional systems of governance, and in places where they recognised them it was mainly on the basis of extending their machinery, control and bureaucracy.

"The position that we took as the democratic government was that the institution of traditional leadership occupies an important place in African life and, historically, in the body politic of South Africa. It has played an important role throughout the struggles of the African people in our country," he said. – BuaNews.