Pretoria - Poor governance systems and strained relations with government are some of the issues being addressed to help get the traditional affairs house in order.
This emerged after government completed the assessment of the state of governance in traditional affairs across eight provinces in August.
On Wednesday, President Jacob Zuma addressed the National House of Traditional Leaders in Tshwane about the work being done to help improve traditional leadership.
"Most of the issues raised and also identified jointly with the Department [of Co-operative Governance and Traditional affairs] during the assessment of the state of governance are currently being addressed in a holistic and structured manner.
"The assessment found varied levels of functionality from the National House, Provincial Houses, Traditional Councils and Local Houses. Cost drivers were found not to be issues pertaining to the core business of the houses such as, rural development and service delivery, but more on subsistence and travel and related expenses," said Zuma, adding that poor governance systems and lack of accountability were also part of the challenges.
The purpose of the assessment was to establish the current situation in various provinces on issues such as the budget allocations to the institution, resources allocated to houses. It was also meant to focus on the relationship between the structures of traditional leadership and local government, norms and standards, relationships among structures of traditional leadership, and the implementation of legislation on traditional leadership.
Another finding was the need for norms and standards that govern the traditional affairs environment including protocol issues; and also the need for traditional leadership legislation to be amended to address traditional leadership matters, including the recognition of the Khoi and San communities.
This would include the amendment of the National House of Traditional Leaders Act to strengthen the House and institution as a whole.
It was also found that relations between traditional leadership, national government, provincial and local government in certain instances were strained, and that a more structured partnership was needed.
Zuma said cases of best practices were noted in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga, adding that the provinces enjoy support and commitment from their provincial government.
Limpopo had some lessons and best practices on Partnerships and Intergovernmental Relations that can be implemented in other provinces, and some Traditional Councils and Local Houses receive support from municipalities.
The President said KwaZulu-Natal had the best practice on the participation of traditional leadership in the development of municipal Integrated Development Plans (IDPs), and their framework can be emulated in other provinces.
He further said government established governance structures at national, provincial and local level with the intention of providing support to the institution of traditional leadership.
These institutions were intended to represent the voices of rural communities and to ensure that development and service delivery take place.
The President said the time had come to move away from some of the distractions that had affected members of the House.
"Now is the time for unity in action to achieve good governance and the development of our communities. Together, we must clarify the roles between traditional leadership and government structures to promote development," he said.
