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29 April 2008

We are pleased to announce the findings of the Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims. This commission, whose aim is to restore the integrity of the institution of traditional leaders and to promote good governance in traditional communities, was appointed by the President of the Republic of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, in 2004. It was established in terms of Chapter 6 of the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act (No 41 of 2003) in order to right the wrongs of the past by resolving traditional leadership disputes and claims dating from as far back as the 1st of September 1927.

Paramountcies Reports
* Determination on AmaXhosa

* Determination on AmaNdebele

* Determination on AmaZulu

* Determination on AmaPondo

* Determination on AbaThembu

* Determination on Bapedi

* Determination on Batlokoa

* Determination on Bakwena

This is due to the numerous disputes, claims and counterclaims which arose largely because of a past that was marred by colonial and apartheid laws which undermined and robbed the institution of traditional leaders of its autonomy and leading in some cases to the deposition of legitimate traditional leaders. The announcement of the findings follows an investigation by this commission into the status of South Africa’s existing paramountcies. Namely, Bakwena ba Mopeli, Batlokoa ba Mota, amaRharhabe, amaGcaleka, abaThembu, amaMpondo ase Qaukeni, amaMpondo ase Nyandeni, Manala-Mbongo, Ndzundza-Mabhoko, Bapedi and lastly, amaZulu.

The determination on these paramountcies was made in terms of customary law and the National Framework Act of 2003. In the case of the Ndzundza and Manala of Mpumalanga, the commission found that the amaNdebele kingship exists and resorts under the lineage of Manala. It concluded that the Ndzundza-Mabhoko paramountcy is not a kingship. In case of the Bapedi of Limpopo, the commission found that the paramountcy of the Bapedi is a kingship and that this kingship resorts under the lineage of Sekhukhune.

For the Batlokwa Ba Mota of the Free State, the commission found that this paramountcy is not a kingship. The commission determined that the paramountcy of the Bakwena Ba Mopeli of the Free State is not a kingship. For the amaRharhabe and amaGcaleka of the Eastern Cape the commission found that the kingship of amaXhosa exists under the lineage of amaGcaleka. It concluded that the amaRharhabe paramountcy is not a kingship.

We will further announce the findings of the remaining groups, the Western Tembuland and Tembuland of the Eastern Cape, the amaPondo also of the Eastern Cape and lastly, the amaZulu of Kwazulu-Natal tomorrow, Wednesday 30 April 2008, at 15h00pm during a press briefing, here at Kopanong, Conference Centre, after the commission has had a chance to meet with the affected groups.

Thank you.

For more information please contact:
Zandile Ratshitanga
Tel: 012 334 0993
Cell: 082 460 2041

Issued by: Ministry for Provincial and Local Government
29 April 2008
Source: Department of Provincial and Local Government, (http://www.dplg.gov.za/)