Why are traditional leaders paid millions of rands

We chat to the Director General at the Department of Traditional Affairs about why the government spends millions every year to take care of traditional leaders

In most rural parts of South Africa the majority of children go to bed hungry, there is no infrastructure development and in some areas, children are still being educated under trees, while others learn in mud schools.  Despite these failings, the government spends millions on the upkeep of kings and other traditional leaders who preside over these areas.

In 2013 Beeld newspaper reported that the government had spent over R650 million to pay 10 kings, 829 senior traditional leaders and 5 311 chiefs.

Even though this might seem like a lot of money, the Congress of Traditional Leaders (Contralesa), believes the kings’ minimum annual R1 million salary is an insult and an embarrassment, as kings apparently deserve more than just a ‘mere R1 million’.

Stating their case, Contralesa argued that since the kings were the first layer of government with the community reporting their issues to them instead of to the government, they deserved to be paid the R2,6 million annual salary that the president earns, Times Live reports.

King Goodwill Zwelithini alone received R54,2 million for the 2014/2015 year in payments from the government.

Taxpayers have often questioned why traditional leaders are paid so much while the communities they head remain undeveloped and their people continue to live well below the poverty line.

Director General at the Department of Traditional Affairs Dr Charles Nwaila explains the role of traditional leaders and why millions of taxpayers’ rands go towards their upkeep.

“Traditional leaders play a very important role in our society today. They are the custodians of African heritage, culture and tradition,” Dr Nwaila says.

He adds that the role of traditional leaders is not only limited to preserving culture, they also help to build communities and assist in the development and unification of these communities.

Traditional leaders play a very important role in our society today. They are the custodians of African heritage, culture and tradition

“In the past you would never see a homeless child, because that was unheard of in the African culture; we always looked after one another. And that is the role that traditional leaders play in the community.

“For example, King Leruo Molotlegi of the Royal Bafokeng Nation in North West [Province] is involved in the platinum mining belt in the area and his family not only provide jobs for people in his community, but also play a key role in the development of that province.

“His vision is to make sure that by 2020 young people in his community participate in economic development in that province, and he wants to encourage entrepreneurship in that province,” Nwaila says.

However, not all communities in South Africa that are led by kings are developed, and not all traditional leaders are working towards making the lives of their community members better. So, why are they paid so much.

In his column published by The Star newspaper, Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi argued that while the government expects traditional leaders to support their structures and programmes, they fail to allocate funds to traditional leaders.

“The government does indeed expect traditional leaders to support government structures and programmes. Yet it makes no financial allocation to traditional councils, which paralyses them from initiating or supporting even the most beneficial development programme,” Buthelezi wrote.

He adds that the institution of traditional leadership has been ignored and sidelined by the government. Buthelezi was responding to an article written by Alexander O’Riordan who accused traditional leaders of being parasites.

Despite Buthelezi’s sentiments, one could argue quite sensibly that the large sums doled out to these leaders could be used for the development of their communities. Why do they receive so much money from the government,  DESTINY asks Dr Nwaila?

“How do we expect kings to survive without a salary? You must remember that traditional leaders were removed from their fertile land by colonial masters, so the government has to correct the wrong of the past,” he says.

He concludes that traditional leaders and the state work hand in hand and they continue to have a relevant role to play in society.

Comments: 

Removed from their fertile land? The Transkei is very fertile yet very little farming happens there. The ANC is using taxpayers money to buy votes.
The upkeep of these pathetic people should be paid for by their own tribes if they want to do so. How can a society function like this. You have a democratic society in a socialist state run by communists and then most of the population answers to a monarch or chief. So who is really in control? Apparently nobody and we all know who suffers, the people. That money could be used to build a school in that community or build an infrastructure. Especially the Zulu king who is no king at all, just a scrounged and tyrant with his massive salary that greatly outnumbers the president's salary. Why? Our supposedly elected president answers to the Zulu king who nobody voted for. So what the Zulu king wants, he gets, no matter who is president. You have got to love the irony in SA politics.

Additional reporting: The Star, Times Live, News24 

(Source: destinyman.com)