Overview
This structure is at local municipal level. There are currently 12 Traditional Councils, namely;
Batlokoa ba Mokotleng (QwaQwa)
- Phomolong Traditional Council
- Thibella Traditional Council
- Dinkoeng Traditional Council
Bakoena ba Mopeli (QwaQwa)
- Thaba Bosiu Traditional Council
- Thaba Tsoeu Traditional Council
- Matsieng Traditional Council
- Bolata Traditional Council
- Namahadi Traditional Council
- Monontsha Traditional Council
- Mabolela Traditional Council
Barolong boo Seleka (Thaba Nchu)
- Barolong boo Seleka Traditional Council
Makholokoe (Harrismith)
- Kholokoe Traditional Council
Batlokoa ba Mokgalong (Vrede)
Not yet established because they currently do not have the area of jurisdiction.
Constitution of Traditional Councils
Traditional Councils are constituted as follows;
- 60% of the council is selected by the senior traditional leaders
- 40% is democratically elected by members of the community through a ballot or any other applicable election method
- One-third of those elected should be women
Term of office
The term of office of the Traditional Council is 5 years.
Functions of Traditional Councils
Councils are mainly responsible for:
- Administering the affairs of the traditional community in accordance with customs and tradition.
- Assisting, supporting and guiding traditional leaders in the performance of their functions.
- Supporting municipalities in the identification of community needs
- Facilitating the involvement of the tradition al community in the development or amendment of the integrated development plan of a municipality in whose area that community resides.
- Recommending, after consultation with the relevant local and provincial houses of traditional leaders, appropriate interventions to government that will contribute to development and service delivery within the area of jurisdiction of the traditional council.
- Participating in the development of policy and legislation at local level
- Participating in development programmes of municipalities and of the Provincial and national spheres of government.
- Promoting the ideals of co-operative governance, integrated development planning, sustainable development and service delivery.
- Promoting indigenous knowledge systems for sustainable development and disaster management .
- Alerting any relevant municipality to any hazard or calamity that threatens the area of jurisdiction of the traditional council in question, or the well-being of people living in such area of jurisdiction, and contributing to disaster management in general .
- Sharing information and co-operating with other traditional councils.
- Performing the functions conferred by customary law, customs and statutory law consistent with the Constitution.
Section 81 of the Municipal Structures Act No. 117 of 1998 enjoins 20% of traditional leaders to participate in municipal councils.
Local Houses of Traditional Leaders
This structure, anticipated to be at the same level as District Municipalities, is yet to be developed.