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RESOLUTION
The National Council of the
IFP met in Ulundi on November 24, 2000 and adopted the following
Resolution:
- We are extremely concerned that matters flowing from
the clash of powers and functions of traditional authorities and
municipalities have not been resolved before the local government
elections in spite of promises and assurances that such conflict would
be eliminated and the powers of traditional authorities protected and
restored.
- We are concerned that after eleven months of
negotiations between traditional leaders and government, elections are
now being held without any amendment having been made to the
constitution and the relevant legislation to resolve the clash of
powers and functions of all municipalities and traditional leaders, in
spite of there being general agreement on the need for a
constitutional amendment to avoid the establishment of municipalities
from obliterating the powers and functions of traditional authorities.
- We are concerned that the establishment of a new
local government system based only on elected municipalities will
marginalise the contribution that amaKhosi can and must make towards
local governance and will give rise to a protracted conflict
undermining rural development.
- We are concerned that in many government circles the
myth is being perpetrated that traditional leadership hinders progress
and development while, in fact, it is essential for the future of our
country that development be driven by a local government model which
stems from our traditions and way of life.
- We endorse and support the proposal put forward by
the Coalition of
Traditional
Leaders for constitutional and legislative amendments which define and
propose a truly African and truly modern system of local government
which combines elements of western representative democracy with African
direct democracy, leading to an osmosis of traditions within a framework
of development and effective delivery of services to the rural poor.
We support the continuing struggle of amaKhosi to
protect the powers, role and functions of ubukhosi throughout South
Africa which is fundamental to the progress, prosperity, peace and
stability of the diverse nations of our country.
We lament the Government's cavalier treatment of
traditional leaders which does not give credence or substance to the
notion of an African Renaissance and seems to deny the possibility
that our country may indeed take strength from all its various
cultures, traditions and ways of life to maximise its potential for
growth and development.
We recognise that the struggle of traditional leaders
must be led and directed by themselves without prescription and to
this end, therefore pledge our support for any action or positions
entertained by the Coalition of Traditional Leaders to bring this
important part of our struggle for liberation forward.
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