DURBAN, 02 September 2025 – The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs is proud to announce its official takeover of the Old Legislative Building in Ulundi, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.
This historic building, which serves as the official seat of the KZN Provincial House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, will undergo a comprehensive refurbishment to bring it up to modern standards.
This initiative forms part of COGTA’s broader strategy to optimise the use of state-owned assets, reduce reliance on costly private leases, and redirect savings towards impactful service delivery.
The handover will act as a catalyst for more infrastructure investment into Ulundi.
The project is expected to:
- Create job opportunities through construction and maintenance work.
- Stimulate local procurement and support small businesses.
- Provide office space for traditional leaders, reducing travel and accommodation costs.
- Enhance access to government services for rural communities.
The MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has hailed this move as a significant turning point in the department’s efforts to support the institution of traditional leadership within the province while stimulating economic growth within small towns and secondary cities.
The MEC also announced that the department has cancelled a lease in Pietermaritzburg, which will save the department R72 million over the next three years. These funds are now earmarked for the upgrading of these facilities and supporting the institution of traditional leadership, through the provision of pensions and medical aid for Amakhosi.
The handover of the building in Ulundi to the department reaffirms Ulundi’s strategic importance and strengthens the institution of traditional leadership in KwaZulu-Natal.
MEC Buthelezi has commended MEC Meyer for his foresight and dedication to the utilisation of state assets in a manner that is beneficial to communities.