New dawn as KZN elects first ever female deputy chair of Provincial House of Traditional Leaders

 

The KZN Provincial Government has welcomed the swearing-in of members and peaceful election of office bearers of the new Provincial House of Traditional Leaders.

These elections saw the incumbent Chairperson Inkosi Phathisizwe Chiliza re-elected unopposed to retain his position and uNdlunkulu waseMatheni Inkosi Thabisile Zulu elected as the first ever female to co-chair the House as its Deputy Chairperson.

The swearing-in ceremony was presided over by Deputy Judge President of the KZN Division of the High Court, Justice Isaac Madondo.

KZN Premier Willies Mchunu, who officiated at the ceremony, has welcomed the elections. He believes that they are a testament to the fact that democracy is alive and well within the institution of traditional leadership in our province. “The election of the first female Deputy Chairperson shows that women have a place within this important institution,” said Mchunu.

“As the provincial government, we are committed to working with the newly elected leadership to fulfil our responsibility to our communities as they are an invaluable partner in our efforts to advance development,” continued Mchunu.

The elections were convened in terms of section 38(1) of the KZN Traditional Leadership and Governance Act, 2005 (Act No. 5 of 2005). The reconstitution and elections of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders are intended to synchronise the term of office of the Provincial House with that of the National House of Traditional Leaders.

Reacting to this significant development, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube said that “traditional leaders of KZN deserve applause from all of us for setting the example by electing a female in the second most senior position within this institution and in so doing amakhosi have launched a serious assault on the false image created by the colonial and apartheid regimes of the role of women within traditional leadership. This proves beyond doubt that the work of creating a non-sexist and non-racial society is one that amakhosi within our province take seriously”.

KZN constitutes the largest number of traditional leaders in the country and amakhosi are a key governance structure that plays a catalytic role in facilitating service delivery and development in the province.

The occasion also witnessed the election of eight members who will serve in the Executive Committee and the members who will serve on behalf of the province in the National House of Traditional Leaders.

For more information contact: KZN Cogta spokespersons Lennox Mabaso, 082 884 2403; or Senzelwe Mzila, 082 302 3472

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