Traditional leadership, land and party politics: Problematising the role of traditional leaders in post-apartheid South Africa

Patrick A. Nyathi, Mthandeni P. Mbatha & Mxolisi B. Cebekhulu

Volume 5 Issue 1, March 2025

Abstract

This article critically examines the evolving role of traditional leaders in post-apartheid South Africa, particularly in land governance, resources management and party politics. Despite their constitutionally protected status, traditional leaders have become increasingly involved with political parties, raising essential questions about their role in democratic governance. They have often been criticised for aligning with political parties, raising questions about their impartiality in a democratic society. This study employed literature review methodology, oral histories, document analysis, and other historical materials to examine the role and neutrality of traditional leaders in party politics in post-1994 South Africa. The analysis draws on interviews conducted with nine traditional leaders and key informants, as well as an examination of newspapers, policies, and historical records. The findings reveal that traditional leaders are not merely custodians of land and culture but active participants in the political sphere, often aligning with political parties to secure influence and resources. This involvement is evident in rural areas, where traditional leaders exert considerable control over land allocation and serve as intermediaries between political parties and local communities. The research highlights the power dynamics, suggesting that the entwinement of traditional authority and party politics may have significant implications for democratic governance, rural land rights and local development. It highlights how political parties leverage traditional leaders to secure electoral support, particularly in rural areas where amakhosi significantly influence land allocation and social governance. These dynamics challenge the democratic principles of fairness and transparency, raising concerns about the potential for political manipulation. This study adds to ongoing debates on the contested role of traditional leaders in South Africa’s political landscape, urging reconsideration of their position within modern governance frameworks.

Keywords

Author information & Contribution

Patrick A. Nyathi. Corresponding author. Department of Educational Foundations, University of South Africa. Email: nyathpa@unisa.ac.za

Mthandeni P. Mbatha. Lecturer, Department of History, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa

Mxolisi B. Cebekhulu. Lecturer, Department of History, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa

“All authors equally contributed to the conception, design, preparation, data gathering and analysis, and writing of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.”

Disclosure statement

Funding

Institutional Review Board Statement

AI Declaration

Notes

Acknowledgement

References

Archibong, E. (2014). Structural-functionalism: Its relevance to the medical profession. International Journal of Educational Research, 2(5), 349-356.

Audu, M. S., & Osuala, S. (2014). Conceptualising functionalism and its application to the study of African history. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 3(6), 225-228.

Ayittey, G. B. N. (2006). Indigenous African institutions. Transnational Publishers.

Beall, J., Gelb, S., & Hassim, S. (2005). Fragile stability: State and society in democratic South Africa. Journal of Southern African Studies, 31(4), 681-700.

Beinart, W. (2001). Twentieth century South Africa. Oxford University Press.

Buthelezi, M., & Skosana, D. (2018). The salience of chiefs. In J. L. Comaroff & J. Comaroff

(Eds.), The politics of custom: Chiefship, capital and the state in contemporary Africa (pp. 84-100). Wits University Press.

Department of Provincial Government. (2003). White paper on traditional leadership. https://www.gov.za/documents/white-papers/traditional-leadership-and-governance-white-paper-10-sep-2003

Delius, P. (2018). Mistaking form for substance. In M. Buthelezi, D. Skosana, & P. Vale (Eds.), Traditional leaders in a democracy: Resources, respect and resistance. MISTRA.

Fisher, J. R. (2010). Systems theory and structural functionalism. In J. T. Ishiyama & M. Breuning (Eds.), 21st century political science: A handbook, volume 1 (pp. 234-247). Sage Publications.

Gomez-Diago, G. (2020). Functionalist theory. In: The Sage international encyclopaedia of mass media and society. Sage Publications.

HeraldLive, (13 August 2018). https://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/

Keulder, C. (1998). Traditional leaders and local government in Africa: Lessons for South Africa. HRSC.

Koenane, M. L. J. (2017). The role and significance of traditional leadership in the governance of modern democratic South Africa. Africa Review, 74, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/09744053.2017.1399563

Lawrence, L., & Manson, A. (1994). The ‘Dog of Boers’: The rise and fall of Mangope in Bophuthatswana. Journal of Southern African Studies, 20(3), 421-439.

Mager, A. K., & Velelo, P. J. (2018). The House of Tshatshu: Power, politics and chiefs, north west of the Great Kei River. UCT Press.

Matsiliza, N. S. (2024). The strategic role of traditional leadership in promoting good governance. Africa’s Public Service Delivery and Performance Review, 12(1), a825. https://doi.org/10.4102/apsdpr.v12i1.825

Myers, J. C. (2008). Indirect rule in South Africa: Tradition, modernity and the costuming of political power. Rochester University Press.

Mzala (1988). A chief with a double agenda. Zed Books.

Nthau, N. L. (2002). The possible role of traditional leadership in development planning in South Africa: Case study of the Bafokeng community in the North West Province. (Unpublished MSc thesis). University of the Witwatersrand.

Ntsebeza, L. (2005a). Democracy compromised: Chiefs and the politics of land in South Africa. Brill.

Ntsebeza, L. (2005b). Rural governance and citizenship in post-1994 South Africa: Democracy compromised? Semantic Scholar. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Rural-Governance-and-Citizenship-in-post-1994

Ntuli, H.S. (2016). Probing the roots of political violence in KwaZulu Natal since 1979. Gender and Behaviour, 14(10), 7254-7262.

Nyathi, P. A. (2024). The introduction of local government in Mtubatuba: A threat to the local traditional authorities? International Journal of Humanities Education and Social Sciences (IJHESS), 4(2), 653–663. https://doi.org/10.55227/ijhess.v4i2.1002

Oomen, B. (2005). Chiefs in South Africa: Land, power and culture in the post-apartheid era. University of Zululand Press.

Rautenbach, C., & Ferreira, G. M. (2023). Traditional authorities and state functions in South Africa: A complex relationship of private participation? Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal (PER/PELJ), 26. https://doi.org/10.17159/1727-3781/2023/v26i0a16229

Republic of South Africa. (1996). The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. https://www.gov.za/documents/constitution/constitution-republic-south-africa-1996-04-feb-1997

South African History Online (2022). Mhlabunzima Joseph Maphumulo. https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/mhlabunzima-joseph-maphumulo

Shen, R. (2024). Reordering functionalism and conflict theory. 1-10.

South African Government. (2003). Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act 41 of 2003. https://www.gov.za/documents/traditional-leadership-and-governance-framework-act

Taylor, R. (2002). Justice denied: Political violence in KwaZulu Natal after 1994. African Affairs, 101(405), 473–508. https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/101.405.473

van Kessel, I., & Oomen, B. (1997). “One chief, one vote”: The revival of traditional authorities in post-apartheid South Africa. African Affairs, 96(385), 561-585.

Cite this article:

Nyathi, P.A., Mbatha, M.P. & Cebekhulu, M.B. (2025). Traditional leadership, land and party politics: Problematising the role of traditional leaders in post-apartheid South Africa. International Review of Social Sciences Research, 5(1), 29-48. https://doi.org/10.53378/irssr.353143