Minister backs amakhosi

ACTING Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nathi Mthethwa has called on traditional leaders as guardians of rural communities to play an active role in rural development.

Mthethwa was speaking at a special indaba attended by traditional leaders in Durban. The meeting was aimed at ironing out tensions between councillors and traditional leaders.

"As the national department, we would like to work with all provinces to ensure that they find ways in which to address the concerns of amakhosi [traditional leaders] with a view to enhancing traditional leadership in general," said Mthethwa.

KwaZulu-Natal cooperative governance MEC Nomusa Dube said traditional leaders complained that councillors often took decisions without involving them at the planning stages of projects aimed at service delivery.

Premier Zweli Mkhize added: "By this, we are saying that amakhosi will not only be father figures but they will be active in the welfare of their communities."