Durban – The national parliamentary portfolio committee on co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) called for more consideration to be given to alternative mechanisms of facilitating the reduction of disputes and conflicts affecting the country’s king and queenships in connection with the selection of successors to the thrones.
This was during the first day of its induction workshop for its members. The committee was briefed by the Department of Traditional Affairs on legally recognised king and queenships in South Africa, king and queenships without disputes and those with disputes, causes of traditional leadership disputes and proposed solutions and progress on the processing of new applications for king and queenship recognition.
The committee was informed that South Africa has 10 legally recognised kingships and one legally recognised queenship.
“Six of the 10 kingships are in the Eastern Cape, one in KwaZulu-Natal, two in the Limpopo and one in Mpumalanga. The one queenship is in Limpopo.
“Five of the kingships that are not disputed include the AmaNdebele, AbaThembu, AmaMpondo of Nyandeni, AmaMpondomise and AmaRharhabe. The Modjadji queenship is also not disputed. The remaining five kingships which have legal disputes and are currently matters that have been taken to court include VhaVhenda, BaPedi, AmaMpondo, AmaXhosa, and AmaZulu,” said portfolio committee chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize.
“These court battles have affected most of the country’s kingships and queenships including the VhaVhenda, BaPedi, AmaNdebele, AmaXhosa, AmaMpondo, AmaMpondomise, AmaZulu and the Modjadji Royal kingdoms.”
Mkhize said that while the committee understands and appreciates the role of the courts in resolving these disputes and claims, it calls for more consideration to be given to alternative mechanisms for facilitating the reduction of these disagreements.
The current absence of an effective traditional institutional mechanism that prevents disputes from playing out in the courts is of great concern to the committee.
The committee recommended the exploration of an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, preferably located within the institution of traditional leadership.
It also affirmed and supported the government’s recognition of successors based on each royal family’s recommendations as informed by its customs, and historical and cultural considerations. This includes examples such as the resolution of the Queen Modjadji case in Limpopo. The committee has also isolated the well-known and outstanding issues specific to King Mabhena from the KwaNdebele Kingdom and will be addressing these including following up on the outcomes of the president’s visit and a court ruling to bring the matter to closure.
Earlier this month, KZN Cogta MEC, the Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, appointed a team to resolve succession disputes which have increased in areas under amakhosi.
He said King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu started a process where the royal family played a critical role in resolving disputes and fostering reconciliation where succession disputes arise.
The team, from the royal family, comprises senior members who worked with King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu for a long time doing this work.
“Their dedication to this crucial task will have a positive impact and restore peace and stability in izizwe zamakhosi (chiefdoms) that have been torn apart by succession disputes,” Buthelezi said.
The KZN Traditional Leadership and Governance Act 5 of 2005 gives authority to the KZN Cogta MEC to oversee all matters about the institution of traditional leadership.
Buthelezi said the team will strengthen the institution of traditional leadership within our province and enhance the work of amakhosi.
“The families of amakhosi who have disputes will work closely with this team, and Cogta will be engaging with them,” Buthelezi added.
The team members are:
- uMntwana uMathubesizwe kaBhekuzulu (who will lead the team)
- uMntwana uMbonisi kaBhekuzulu
- uMntwana uVulindlela kaBhekuzulu
- uMntwana uMxolisi kaBhekuzulu
- uMntwana uLindi kaBhekuzulu
- uMntwana uThuthukani kaMcwayizeni kaSolomon
- Inyosi uBuzetsheni Mdletshe
- Reverend Canon Hamilton Mbatha
- Reverend Canon Daniel Mthembu
Meanwhile, in July, the committee wanted more information on the status of traditional king and queenship leadership disputes across the country, including court cases won and lost and all related matters requiring the department’s attention.
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