Traditional Leadership
Traditional leaders are integrated into governance structures in North West Province.
The constitution of South Africa is the sovereign law of the land, but traditional leadership is acknowledged within that framework. National legislation also provides traditional leadership with a role at a local level on matters affecting local communities.
Houses of traditional leaders have been established at national level and at provincial level in most provinces, including the North West. Each provincial house nominates three members to the National House of Traditional Leaders, which then advises national government on the role of traditional leaders in the various local communities.
The North West Provincial House of Traditional Leaders has been officially operating since 2006. An administrative office within the Office of the Premier of the North West provides secretarial, administrative and financial support to traditional councils within the province and to the Provincial House. Genealogical research is also undertaken from time to time.
The Provincial House has the power to consider and comment on legislation proposed at provincial and national level and advises provincial and national government on issues of traditional authorities, indigenous law, traditions and customs of communities across the province. Essentially, the house provides a platform for traditional communities in the province to be heard in respect of local, provincial and national decision-making.
Initiatives undertaken by the house include building capacity within the institution – by signing Memorandums of Understanding with relevant government departments, contributing to social cohesion and the building of national identity through programmes such as the moral-regeneration programme and contributing to government’s objectives in respect of safety and security, health and justice and constitutional development.
The Royal Bafokeng nation is very much in the public eye at the time of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ as their stadium, the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, will host several matches in the tournament and glamour team England will stay at the nearby hotel. The Bafokeng nation is based just north of Rustenburg, where large deposits of platinum have been discovered and are currently being extracted.
