Democratic Decentralisation and Traditional Authority: Dilemmas of Land Administration in Rural South Africa

Post-apartheid South Africa embarked on an important democratisation process that included reforms in local government and land administration in the former Bantustans. A new conception of "developmental local government" introduced the notion of elected local leadership and an emphasis on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of development research Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 71 - 89
Main Author: Ntsebeza, Lungisile
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London Palgrave Macmillan UK 01.04.2004
Subjects:
Administration
Administrative decentralization
Apartheid
Citizenship
Decentralization
Democracy
Democratization
Development and Social Change
Development Economics
Development Policy
Development Studies
Environmental management
Environmental policy
Governance
Land
Land policy
Local Government
Political Development
Political Participation
Post-apartheid era
Resource management
Rural areas
Rural Development
Social Sciences
South Africa
ISSN:0957-8811, 1743-9728
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Post-apartheid South Africa embarked on an important democratisation process that included reforms in local government and land administration in the former Bantustans. A new conception of "developmental local government" introduced the notion of elected local leadership and an emphasis on improving the quality of life of previously disadvantaged sectors. Nevertheless, this democratisation process risks serious compromise due to the concessions being made to traditional rural authorities - the same autocratic local authorities who enjoyed significant powers under apartheid. In particular, the legal transfer of land administration to elected officials has not occurred, leaving this important power under the authority of unaccountable local chiefs and headmen. Is democratic decentralisation compatible with the traditional authorities (chiefs of various ranks) who inherit their posts? While some chiefs and headmen may choose to promote local participation, the freedom to choose one's leaders is automatically excluded - seriously limiting downward accountability. This contribution argues that the central government must recognise this incompatibility and support the rights of rural residents to full citizenship. (Original abstract)
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ISSN:0957-8811
1743-9728
DOI:10.1080/09578810410001688743