Ten traditional leaders in Hlanganani in Makhado, who are adversely affected by the government’s introduction of the Traditional Courts Bill, have resolved to fight to the bitter end to make sure the bill does not become law.

At a meeting at the Tiyani community authority on Saturday, the traditional leaders, who are all aligned to the Gaza Kingdom, led by Eric Nxumalo, a direct descendant of warrior king Nghunghunyane, met to discuss the bill. They also discussed  transport arrangements to the Gauteng High Court on January 26, where Nxumalo was to challenge the outcome of the Nhlapo Commission into kingship, which did not rule in his favour.

The meeting on Saturday came after the funeral of one of the affected leaders, Hosi Manghove.

The spokesperson of the traditional leaders, Isaac Nkanyane, said the former government had taken away their powers in 1962, when they were removed from their ancestral lands, in line with the apartheid policies, and were settled in new areas.

He said the new government’s bill makes it worse for them, because it has abolished community authorities. “It means an independent headman must now choose which traditional authority he must belong to,” said Nkanyane. They agreed to challenge the bill legally and would join other communities opposed to the bill.

Nkanyane said there were 47 traditional authorities in the area and all the people affected were Xitsonga speaking.

An expert in traditional matters, Adv Shirhami Shirinda, says that the act is unconstitutional and is also perpetuating apartheid practices. “In 1961, traditional leaders who were opposed to apartheid were demoted while those who toed the line were promoted. This act perpetuates that position,” he said.

He said community authorities were consistent with democracy, because community authorities were groomed together and chairmanship rotated every five years. “At least there is a bit of democracy, rather than in tribal authorities,” he said.