Debate on the SCOPA Resolutions
Speech By MB Gwala
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Pietermaritzburg :
26th November 2008 Honourable Speaker I would also like to take this opportunity to explain why my party, the IFP, did not support the SCOPA resolution which precipitated the department's investigation into the alleged non-compliance of the imposition and collection of traditional levies with the Traditional Leadership and Governance Act No. 5 of 2005, whose legal provisions supersede all previous legislation pertaining to the administration of the institution of traditional leadership in KwaZulu Natal.
At the heart of our opposition to the SCOPA
resolution is the perennial quandary of funding of the KwaZulu Natal
House of Traditional Leaders. The House, as we know, is a designated
public entity in all but name. It does not receive adequate funding
from the Department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs to
fulfil its mandate and therefore relies on the imposition and
collection of the traditional levies in question. We in the Official Opposition certainly hope
that this observation will form part of the investigation that is
underway now and that if the legal opinion that is in favour of the
alleged non-compliance of traditional levies with the current
legislation holds, the department will find an alternative solution
to the lack of funding to which the House is now subjected. We in
the IFP believe that such a step would be a move forward in that it
would resolve a long-standing impasse between the House of
Traditional Leaders and the Department of Local Government and
Traditional Affairs and allow the former to fulfil its functions
according to its designated mandate. I thank you.
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