Question NW717 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Reply:

Following the adoption of the District Development Model (DDM), the Department of Traditional Affairs developed a guideline on the participation of Local Houses of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders in the DDM. The Department continues to use the guideline to support and promote the role of traditional leaders in the DDM. Secondly, the Department of Traditional Affairs and the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders (NHTKL) are finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) which will assist in strengthening and harmonizing relations between traditional leadership and municipalities. This is one of the resolutions taken at the Local Government Summit that was held last year.

Furthermore, Section 81 of the Municipal Structures Act has been amended to provide greater clarity on the participation of traditional leaders in municipal governance. Before the amendment, concerns were raised, among others, about the lack of specific provisions that would guide provinces to ensure effective implementation. Finally, the Department has also put in place Guidelines on the participation of traditional leadership in municipal lntegrated Development Planning) IDP processes, and these provide a simplified uniform approach for involving traditional councils in the planning processes of municipalities.

End.