Foreworded by Chairpersonof the EASTERN CAPE HOUSE OF TRADITIONAL LEADERS:
NKOSI NGANGOMHLA MATANZIMA (AH! NGANGOMHLABA)
The new Political dispensation heralded a new era in the future of Traditional Leadership in South Africa. The tireless efforts of Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA), which is the political organisation of traditional leaders, ensured that the traditional leadership institution is not marginalised in the constitutional provision of the country. This has meant recognition to all the traditional leadership institutions which has manifested itself by South African Constitution embracing the said institution.
It becomes critical that the two structures in the local government sphere, namely the traditional leadership and the elected structures to display the political maturity to co-exist for the benefit of the Eastern Cape citizens. The traditional leadership institutions are facing the major challenge as vanguards of traditions and customs and must display the integrity and the intellectual prowess to execute those functions.
The fact that traditional leadership has a place in the Constitution of the country; it has a challenge to entrench itself as a suitable structure to spearhead change in the new democratic dispensation. The Institution with the required skills and knowledge has the prowess to influence the social and the economic order in our societies. These challenges must be fought with the conviction, emotional and intellectual prowess which has always been synonymous with the traditional governance.
The House of Traditional Leaders must brace itself to play a meaningful role in the democratic society and to revive the moral fibre which is eluding our societies. The traditional institutions together with the other civil society structures have a role to play in the revival of the spirit of Ubuntu which has always been the bedrock of our society. The House will therefore always support the endeavours which are aimed at uplifting our societies.