The role of traditional authorities in the implementation of Integrated Development Planning Policy (IDP) in Vhembe District Municipality, Limpopo province

Abstract

The South African post-apartheid government attempted to integrate traditional authorities and local government. The concept is to promote co-operative and inclusive government among rural communities and contemporary local government systems. Government believes traditional authorities have a role to play in democracy, particularly with regard to community service delivery in these societies and democracy particularly with regard to community service delivery. However, this attempt has encountered several constraints. This article identifies those factors that are constraining this attempt. Fifteen traditional leaders who represent rural communities in municipalities in the Vhembe District Municipality were interviewed through a semi-structured questionnaire to measure their perception with regard to their role in local government. In addition, representatives of traditional leaders’ structures, municipal managers, municipal IDP managers, municipal mayors and the Vhembe District Municipal Mayor were also interviewed. The results of this study reveal that perceptions on the role played by traditional leaders in the local government IDP processes vary considerably. The results revealed that perceptions on their participation (45,5%), involvement (45,25%), submission of views (41,2%), and participation in ward committees (4,8%), council attendance (90,0%), playing a role in the proceedings (50,0%), submission of IDP proposals (38,7%) and consultation by local government offi cials (93,2%) were indeed very diverse. The overall finding is that the real participation by traditional leaders in the IDP process is still relatively limited.