The ANC And Traditional Authorities In Historical Perspective

Abstract

The topic of traditional leaders and their role has always been of great interest not only to anthropologists but also to politicians, the youth, missionaries, business entrepreneurs and government bureaucrats. Policy development that forms part of the government' outputs are influenced by many factors which includes historical facts, political ideologies, cultural differences and sometimes leadership. This article deals with some of these determinants. These give us a better picture as we attempt to outline the existing conflict between the African National Congress (herein referred to as ANC) and the ongoing
political battle with the indigenous traditional system of governance in the form of traditional
leadership. As a point of departure the author briefly outlines the position of the
Constitution regarding traditional leaders in the democratic dispensation of South Africa. I
conclude that the ANC's position is ambivalent. It is this ambiguity that contributes to an
unclear policy formulation when it comes to defining the role and status of traditional
leaders within the local government structures. The article also discusses what the ANC
regards as the weaknesses of the traditional leadership and thus arrives at the conclusion
that the institution of traditional leadership is by nature an undemocratic entity that must
be abolished. The alleged undemocratic practices also include the exclusion of women as
traditional leaders. The author argues that the institution of traditional leadership can and
must be democratised and therefore be sustained for the benefit of development in rural
areas.

Keywords: Traditional leadership, political ideology, indigenous traditional system of governance, historical perspective.

Indilinga Vol. 7 (1) 2008: pp. 87-102