Integrating indigenous and contemporary local governance: issues surrounding traditional leadership and considerations for post- apartheid South Africa
Loading...
Date
1999
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universty of the Western Cape
Abstract
With the possible exceptions of Ethiopia (before the overthrow of the empire in the 1970s), Lesotho and Swaziland, the engagement of indigenous African leaders and institutions of governance in modern political structure sand processes has been an elusive one. This study describes' analyzes and assesses efforts by colonial' post colonial and apartheid regimes incorporate indigenous leaders and institutions in their governmental structures and processes Based on this examination' the study presents a multi-element model of how post-apartheid South Africa could integrate indigenous leaders and some features of governance in current liberal democratic structures, especially in rural local authorities. Study material consisted of government documents' policy statements and laws, anthropological sources, critical articles and books on both indigenous leadership and forms of governance, and colonial, apartheid, postcolonial and post-apartheid eras. Some comparative analysis was made of African experiences generally, and those of Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe in particular' and their Implications for the South African indigenous leaders project spelt out.
Description
Keywords
South Africa, Ethiopia, Post-apartheid, Indigenous African, Indigenous leaders