The Relationship between Traditional Leaders and Rural Local Municipalities in South Africa: With Special Reference to Legislations Governing Local Government

Abstract The South African government has three spheres of governments which are national, provincial and local. National and provincial governments were constituted in 1994, whereas local government was constituted as transitional local councils (TLCs) in 1995. In the year 2000, transitional local councils were transformed into local governments (local municipalities). Every inch of South Africa, except national parks, is within the jurisdiction of a local government. In rural areas where traditional rule is still in existence, there are traditional councils who are born leaders as they are royalty. Additionally, in rural areas, there are municipalities with their own councils. With these two types of governance in rural areas, traditional governance and local governance, there is always contestation of power. This conceptual study examines ways of minimizing the constant power contestation between traditional leadership and local councils by emphasizing the importance of legislations that govern them.