Deputy President underscores traditional leaders' role in rural governance
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has firmly reasserted the government's dedication to bolstering the position of traditional leaders within South Africa's governance framework, describing them as an indispensable foundation for social unity and administration in rural areas. Mashatile was delivering the virtual keynote address at the Eastern Cape Traditional Leaders' Summit, hosted at the East London International Convention Centre on Tuesday.
The two-day gathering, which assembled traditional leaders alongside government officials and various stakeholders, sought to tackle obstacles confronting traditional leadership institutions while identifying avenues to deepen collaboration between the state and traditional authorities.
"Government will never render traditional leaders irrelevant. On the contrary, we recognise that traditional leadership remains a vital pillar of governance, particularly in rural communities."
Mashatile emphasised that traditional leaders continue to fulfil a crucial function in safeguarding cultural heritage, fostering community solidarity and driving development at grassroots level. He reflected on how traditional leaders served as the backbone of governance in African societies well before colonial interference, settling disputes and steering communities through systems anchored in trust and public service.
South Africa's democratic dispensation, he noted, acknowledges the significance of traditional leadership through constitutional provisions that affirm both the institution and its societal function. Legislative instruments, including the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act, have brought traditional leadership into alignment with democratic principles, enabling traditional councils to operate in tandem with municipalities under the cooperative governance model.
Land rights, gender-based violence and youth unemployment in focus
The Deputy President highlighted concrete measures taken to restore the standing and recognition of traditional leadership, pointing to the creation of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, along with Provincial and Local houses. He noted that the Inter-Ministerial Task Team on Matters of Traditional Leadership, established in 2022, continues to address concerns raised by traditional leaders, with its work spanning land rights advancement, socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, infrastructure investment, skills development and legislative reform.
"Platforms such as the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, as well as Provincial and Local Houses, ensure that traditional leaders participate in shaping policies that affect rural communities. Through these structures, traditional leaders have consistently raised critical issues including land rights, socio-economic development, institutional capacity, infrastructure support, policy reforms, and social cohesion."
Mashatile called on traditional leaders to forge closer working relationships with municipalities and provincial governments to confront service delivery shortfalls and rally communities behind the protection of public infrastructure, including schools, clinics and water systems. He further urged them to take a proactive stance against pressing social ills such as gender-based violence, substance abuse and youth unemployment.
"Our government has classified gender-based violence and femicide as a national disaster to strengthen coordination in addressing this crisis. But legislation alone cannot change behaviour. Community leadership is essential in challenging harmful attitudes and practices that perpetuate violence."
In his address, the Deputy President also stressed the importance of traditional leaders as guardians of communal land, arguing that prudent land management could open doors for agricultural development, employment creation and food security across rural communities. He pointed to government programmes such as the Presidential Employment Stimulus, which has already generated more than 2.5 million employment and livelihood opportunities, with many of these benefiting young people in rural areas. Mashatile also encouraged traditional leaders to play an active part in the ongoing National Dialogue process, noting their representation in both the Eminent Persons Group and the National Dialogue Steering Committee.
South Africa's rural communities, home to millions who rely on traditional governance structures for dispute resolution, land management and service delivery, stand to benefit if the pledged collaboration between government and traditional leaders translates into tangible action. Strengthened partnerships could accelerate progress on persistent challenges like youth unemployment, gender-based violence and food insecurity in underserved areas. Whether these commitments move beyond rhetoric will depend on sustained funding, legislative follow-through and genuine cooperation at municipal level.
