BACKGROUND
The Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders came into existence on the 18th October 1996 after the ushering in of the first democratic government that recognized the co-existence of traditional leadership along with legislative bodies. However it becomes imperative to indicate that traditional leadership institutions existed for time immemorial. The Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders is a statutory body established by the Provincial Legislature in 1995 in terms of section 183(1) of the interim Constitution of the Republic of South Africa No. 200 of 1993. Its role and functions were set out in section 183 (b) and (c) and (2). Interim Constitution Act 200 of 1993 was subsequently repealed by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act No. 108 of 1996. The formal instrument establishing the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders is the House of Traditional Leaders Act No. 1 of 1995 as amended.
In terms of this Act the role of the House is to:
• Advise, and make proposals to Provincial Government on:
•Traditional Institutions
•Indigenous Law
•Traditions and Customs
• Making inputs on Provincial and National Bills pertaining to traditional communities.
• Investigate & advise on claims and counter-claims to traditional leadership positions
• Ensure co-operation between traditional leadership & the 3 spheres of government