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16 April 2009

Programme director, Mr Harry Mchunu
His Majesty the King Hlanga Lomhlabathi
MEC for Housing, Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Michael Mabuyakhulu
Other MECs present
Inkosi MG Buthelezi UMtwana wakwaPhindangene
Members of the Legislature
Your Worship, the Mayor of eThekwini, Cllr Obed Mlaba
Other mayors and councillors present
Amakhosi
Head of the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Ms G Gumbi-Masilela
Other Heads of Department (HODs) present
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen

It is with immense pleasure that I stand before you, today, as we celebrate, yet another milestone in the development of our province and, particularly, the institution of traditional leadership.

The launch of the book: Traditional Leadership and Democracy – How Far We Have Come in KwaZulu-Natal?, by our MEC for Local Government, Housing and Traditional Affairs, Honourable Michael Mabuyakhulu, is an important milestone in the life of our new democracy.

The 15 years of democracy, we embrace today, comes with great achievements and we, as the government of KwaZulu-Natal, take pride in being the first province to embrace and implement change with regard to post-1994 traditional leadership legislation.

Programme director, the institution of traditional leadership suffered, immensely, at the hands of successive colonial and apartheid regimes. Precisely because it formed the last stand against total domination of our people, there were systematic processes engaged by the oppressive governments to ensure that it lost its standing in the community. These processes, which found expression in the legal prescripts of the day, ensured that this institution was reduced to near-nothing and its custodians – Amakhosi and other traditional leaders – were reduced to prefects of the oppressive governments.

Those, among our Amakhosi, who dared to stand up against this onslaught on our way of life suffered, immensely, under the brutal colonial and apartheid systems. The story of King Cetshwayo kaMpande KaSenzangakhona, and the heroism of our people in defence of their land and their way of life, is still fresh in our minds. The brutality meted out to Inkosi Bhambatha KaMancinza Zondi, and those he led, is a stuff of legends.

Today, we have come to celebrate the restoration of the pride and glory that once defined our institution of traditional leadership. Today, we have come to proclaim that, indeed, the sacrifices of our traditional leaders were not in vain. Today, we have come to, through the launch of this book; pay our respects to those who engaged in the struggle for self-determination and emancipation, when it was really unfashionable to do so.

As we celebrate this achievement, we recognise and appreciate the maturity and wisdom of all traditional leaders in our province, without whom transformation could not have been possible.

These leaders, and their communities, worked hard with their elected government to realise the policy objectives of the new dispensation, because they have suffered immensely at the hands of past administrations.

Today, we are proud to say that, as an ANC-led government in the past five years in this province, we have laid a solid foundation for a democratic and prosperous KwaZulu-Natal.

Democracy brings honour and recognition

Programme director, it is important to note the fact that it was the democratically elected government, a government itself led by the Royal Thembu Prince – President Nelson Mandela, which began to earnestly pursue objectives that had emerged during constitutional negotiations, on matters that relate to the institution of traditional leadership. We are not certain that, had it been another party that got into power in 1994, the matter of traditional leadership would have received the kind of attention that it received from the ANC-led government.

It is also important to highlight that the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government was part of the national developments around the framework legislation drafting process. The provincial programme of action commenced long before the passing of the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act, Act No.41 of 2003. This we did, partly, because we understood the enormous role that traditional leaders have always played in the development of our people, but also because we appreciated that the emancipation of our people would not be complete if we did not restore the dignity of the institution of traditional leadership.

We, therefore, congratulate the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs who have ensured that the views of Amakhosi, and those of other stakeholders, were collated and submitted during all the legal and other processes, to complement the national process of recognition and honour for our traditional leadership.

The government, and people of KwaZulu-Natal, can proudly reflect on the current roles and responsibilities of traditional leaders in the province, and confirm that we have, collectively, moved closer to restoring the dignity that was eroded by the administrations of the past. In this regard, we reflect on the policy positions of our government which were introduced by the provisions in Chapter 12 of the Constitution.

The transformation process has also enabled the KwaZulu-Natal government to, effectively, deal with the restoration of dignity to His Majesty the King and the Royal Family. Legislation now provides for this esteemed institution to play its customary roles, including the installation of senior traditional leaders. As government, we have made use of the legislative framework to review and reposition the vehicle that provides administrative support to His Majesty the King and the Royal Family. It is our view that, in so doing, we complete the set of activities aimed at restoring dignity to the institution.

Continuing tradition

We have carefully examined the nature of the vehicle that currently provides support to His Majesty the King and the Royal Family. With guidance from technical investigations, carried out by KPMG, we have arrived at the decision that a government department is not an appropriate vehicle. We have agreed that a Statutory Trust, with the ability to raise public and private funds, is most appropriate. We have looked at comparable international best practice and have embarked on an intensive internal consultation process.

The ability of the trust to raise funds will be critical to its sustainability, but the trust will be expected to define and position an appropriate concept of Zulu Kingship in alignment with customs/traditions and legislation.

We are excited with the prospect that adequate resources and capacity will enable His Majesty the King and the Royal Family to intensify their programme of action, as provided for in legislation. To this end, we support the legislated duties of His Majesty the King which are listed in the Act.

As government, we look forward to the completion of the transformation process. We, particularly, have an interest in the repositioning of His Majesty the King and the Royal Family, in terms of new order legislation and with the support of the Statutory Trust. We encourage continued co-operation among all stakeholders in finalisation of outstanding matters in the transformation process.

We look forward to the participation of new members, in the various structures, as fresh elections are held in the future for provincial and local houses, all in support of the transformation of the institution of traditional leadership in accordance with new order legislation.

The first phase of our transformation has gone ahead smoothly. It is thanks to the maturity and the innovation of all stakeholders who saw beyond their partisan interests, and engaged on the business of rebuilding this esteemed institution. This maturity attests to the stability that permeates our province and the positive outlook that characterises our people.

As we celebrate this milestone, we also need to be mindful of the fact that those who succeed, in whatever endeavour, up the bar in terms of expectations of those observing them.

The province of KwaZulu-Natal, as a pioneering province with regards to the transformation of the institution of traditional leadership, has an added responsibility of being at the cutting edge of new and fresh innovations around the institution of traditional leadership. However, as we enjoy our status of being the torch-bearers when it comes to the transformation of the institution of traditional leadership, we are also aware that it is not only the accolades that define our success, but, critically, the practical transformation of our people's lives is the ultimate barometer of our success.

In the struggle to create a better life for our people, particularly our traditional communities, we remain mindful of the fact that a weak institution of traditional leadership equals slow service delivery in our province. The second phase of our transformation, therefore, will focus mainly on how we can adequately resource, capacitate and position this institution such that it is responsive to the needs of our people. This mainly talks to budgets, strategic and operational plans as well as other administrative activities which ensure that this institution functions effectively.

Programme director, it is a known fact that, more often than not, pioneering work that is done by government goes unnoticed and is not left behind for future generations to critique and improve on. This book, therefore, begins a trend for all our provincial departments to move beyond their dependence on press briefings and press statements but to communicate their policy positions unmediated. We commend this step and we feel that this innovation could not have begun at a better place than within the institution of traditional leadership. Today all of us, in KwaZulu-Natal, walk with pride because we are living up to our billing as a province of firsts and a leader in all fields.

Together, we can do more. Masisukume Sakhe!

Thank you.

Issued by: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
16 April 2009