In move described as the first of its kind, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has announced that Amakhosi will now sit in executive committees (Exco) of municipalities to ensure they are well informed about service delivery matters.
KZN Cogta MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi made the announcement while addressing a meeting with mayors and municipal managers on Tuesday.
It is hoped that the inclusion of the Amakhosi in the exco will provide them with insight into decision-making processes and boost service delivery in rural areas.
Buthelezi, who is also the traditional prime minister of the Zulu Nation, said he would soon be signing off on a circular that authorises traditional leaders to be members of Exco as ex-officio members. He said at each municipality, at least one Inkosi should be in Exco.
The announcement was widely welcomed by some of the mayors and Amakhosi present at the meeting, while others urged Cogta to tread cautiously on the matter.
Those who supported the initiative argued that merely placing Amakhosi in the exco as ex-officio members would not grant them real power.
They called for an amendment to the constitution to ensure that Amakhosi can participate meaningfully in exco activities.
“For the first time, the MuniMec now incorporates representatives from the KZN Provincial House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders. We believe this is an important step towards making MuniMec a legitimate platform where leaders can engage and find ways to improve the lives of our communities, including those in areas governed by Amakhosi,” said MEC Buthelezi.
He continued, “We also discussed the participation of traditional leadership in municipal executive committees, focusing on the integration and collaboration between traditional leaders and municipal governance structures.”
“The participation of traditional leaders in municipal executive committees is guided by the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, sections 81 and 89. This Act allows traditional leaders to attend and participate in the deliberations of municipal councils, although they do not have voting rights,” Buthelezi explained.
He emphasised the importance of amakhosi occupying these seats to understand what is happening in their areas, as exco is the decision-making structure of the municipality.
Buthelezi’s office said further details on the exact nature of the role of the Amakhosi and the maximum number that will sit in exco will be clarified when the circular is published.
Nokuthula Khanyile, acting Chief Director of Municipal Governance and Administration, said the MEC strongly believed that government should align with traditional leadership as the institution existed long before governments were formed.
Khanyile said there was a legislative framework guiding this process.
“I will start with the constitution, which is the supreme law of our country.
The constitution states that national legislation may provide a role for traditional leadership as an institution at a local level on matters affecting the local community.
“The main objective stems from the gap identified: while traditional leaders sit in municipal councils, in the majority of municipalities they are not members of the exco, whereas the constitution requires fair representation of parties and interests reflected in the proceedings of the council and its committees,” she added.
Inkosi Ntandoyenkosi Shabalala welcomed the inclusion of Amakhosi in exco but described the move as inadequate.
“Including Amakhosi as ex-officio officials is not enough; they will still have no powers. Amakhosi have no veto powers, and we are still going to be treated as tokens in the municipalities.
You look at the councillors talking, but you have no influence.”
He insisted that such changes should also be made to the law to ensure that future MECs cannot alter them.
UMhlathuze mayor Xolani Ngwezi recalled that years ago, former president Jacob Zuma had discussed amending a section of the constitution to ensure that Amakhosi have some kind of power in municipal councils.
“I don’t know if your department can aggressively persuade the national government to make the amendment that will allow for Amakhosi not to be tokens in council,” he said.
Msunduzi mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla called for caution, especially regarding amending the constitution to grant Amakhosi more power, suggesting that such a move should undergo more detailed discussion.
Inkosi Ngqayizivele Sithole, Deputy Chairperson of the KZN Provincial House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, welcomed the announcement, stating that it would improve working relations between traditional leaders and councils.
He acknowledged that Amakhosi sometimes do not understand how councils work, and such an initiative will help improve that understanding.
The Mercury