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Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act, 2003 (Act No. 41 of 2003)

Chapter 5 : Roles and Functions of Traditional Leadership

20. Guiding principles for allocation of roles and functions

 

 

(1) National government or a provincial government, as the case may be, may, through legislative or other measures, provide a role for traditional councils or traditional leaders in respect of—
(a) arts and culture;
(b) land administration;
(c) agriculture;
(d) health;
(e) welfare;
(f) the administration of justice;
(g) safety and security;
(h) the registration of births, deaths and customary marriages;
(i) economic development;
(j) environment;
(k) tourism;
(l) disaster management;
(m) the management of natural resources; and
(n) the dissemination of information relating to government policies and programmes.

 

(2) Whenever an organ of state within the national government or a provincial government considers allocating a role for traditional councils or traditional leaders in terms of subsection (1), that organ of state must—
(a) seek the concurrence of—
(i) the Minister if it is an organ of state in the national sphere of government; or
(ii) the Member of the Executive Council responsible for traditional affairs in the province concerned if it is an organ of state of that province;
(b) consult with—
(i) the relevant structures of traditional leadership; and
(ii) the South African Local Government Association;
(c) ensure that the allocation of a role or function is consistent with the Constitution and applicable legislation;
(d) take the customary law and customs of the respective traditional communities into account;
(e) strive to ensure that the allocation of a role or function is accompanied by resources and that appropriate measures for accounting for such resources are put in place;
(f) ensure, to the extent that it is possible, that the allocation of roles or functions is implemented uniformly in areas where the institution of traditional leadership exists; and
(g) promote the ideals of co-operative governance, integrated development planning, sustainable development and service delivery through the allocation of roles and functions.

 

(3) Where an organ of state has allocated a role or function to traditional councils or traditional leaders as envisaged by subsection (1), the organ of state must monitor the implementation of the function and ensure that—
(a) the implementation of the function is consistent with the Constitution; and
(b) the function is being performed.

 

(4) Where a traditional council does not perform an allocated function as envisaged in subsection (3), any resources given to a traditional council to perform that function may be withdrawn.