South African Crime Quarterly 49

This edition of the South African Crime Quarterly (SACQ 49) examines the failure of the democratisation of rural South Africa, specifically focusing on the North West Province and the platinum mining belt. It analyzes how the failure of the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act of 2003 (TLGFA) to establish legitimate leadership and democratic traditional councils has led to corruption, mismanagement, and violent protest action.

• The democratisation of rural South Africa, particularly in the North West Province, is described as a failure, leading to widespread frustration and a tendency for residents to use illegal and violent protest action to resolve local concerns because other avenues have failed.
• The Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act of 2003 (TLGFA) and the associated Nhlapo Commission (Commission on Traditional Leadership: Disputes and Claims) failed to consistently resolve the legitimacy of traditional leaders. In the Eastern Cape (Mpondo) and Mpumalanga (Ndzundza), the Commission's determinations were found to be contradictory and inconsistent.
• The TLGFA's requirement to transform apartheid-era tribal authorities into democratic 'traditional councils'—which required 40% elected members and one-third women—was an 'unmitigated failure' across all provinces. In the North West, elections were held in January 2014, but the provincial government did not publish the names of new members until an Extraordinary Provincial Gazette notice on 8 August 2014.
• In the platinum mining belt, the lack of state transformation of community structures and the power of traditional leaders to enter mining deals without community accountability has resulted in deep dissatisfaction and violence. This environment is characterized by a 'traditional leader takes all' dynamic and a 'cavalier attitude' from mining companies.
• Legal challenges, such as the one brought by the Bafokeng Landbuyers Association (BLA) against the kgosi of the Bafokeng regarding land appropriated by the Royal Bafokeng Nation (RBN), may lead to increased accountability. A Mafikeng High Court ruling suggests traditional leaders might be required to seek consent from their constituents before making decisions.

APA

Buthelezi, M., & Gould, C. (2014). South African Crime Quarterly 49. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/research/south-african-crime-quarterly/south-african-crime-quarterly-49

Chicago

Buthelezi, Mbongiseni, and Chandré Gould. South African Crime Quarterly 49. Institute for Security Studies, 2014. https://issafrica.org/research/south-african-crime-quarterly/south-african-crime-quarterly-49.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Buthelezi |first1=Mbongiseni |last2=Gould |first2=Chandré |title=South African Crime Quarterly 49 |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=2014 |url=https://issafrica.org/research/south-african-crime-quarterly/south-african-crime-quarterly-49 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{buthelezi2014south, author = {Buthelezi, Mbongiseni and Gould, Chandré}, title = {{South African Crime Quarterly 49}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2014}, url = {https://issafrica.org/research/south-african-crime-quarterly/south-african-crime-quarterly-49}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }