The effect of the relationship between traditional leaders and municipal councillors on service delivery: a case of Polokwane Local Municipality, Limpopo Province

The study examined the effectiveness of the relationship between traditional leaders and municipal councillors regarding service delivery in Polokwane Local Municipality. The introduction of municipalities in rural areas brought about two kinds of leadership in rural communities, namely, traditional leaders and municipal councillors. Traditional leaders are representatives of their traditional communities and municipal councillors are elected to represent the municipality in traditional communities. The problem for the research deals with the relationship between traditional leaders and municipal councillors and the effect it has on service delivery. The role and place of the institution of traditional leadership in democratic local government system have been fraught with tension, confusion and contradictory practices. The Constitution of the South Africa 1996 is not clear on the role of traditional leaders in local government although section 156 defines the powers and functions of elected councillors, which largely overlaps with those exercised by traditional leaders. The difficulties encountered in the relationship between traditional leaders and municipal councillors and challenges that contribute to service delivery in local government were analysed. The desktop analysis method was applied by the study to collect information from the municipal documents that incorporated the nature and place of traditional leaders in local government municipality, and the pieces of legislation that focuses on the affairs of local government. The data collected was analysed by use of a qualitative approach. Polokwane Local Municipality is predominantly rural including considerable land under traditional authority. The analysis of data indicate that municipal council are required to consult traditional leaders in matters of local government. What is not clear is whether the traditional leaders form part of decision making. The study recommends a clear specification of the roles of traditional leaders in Polokwane Local Municipality