Polycentric governance : evaluating the relevance of traditional authorities in good governance in South Africa

Abstract

ENGLISH : This article explores the role of traditional authorities within the complex governance structures of South Africa, specifically in the North-West and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. Polycentric governance, which involves multiple, interconnected decision-making centres that operate independently yet are interdependent, forms the theoretical foundation for this study. In South Africa, municipal governance faces challenges, due to the ambiguous role of traditional authorities, which has hindered the development of rural areas. There is currently no clear framework in the NorthWest and KwaZulu-Natal provinces outlining how traditional authorities can function effectively within the broader governance system. This research aims to develop a framework that enhances the governance relevance of traditional authorities, drawing on the concept of polycentricity and governance theory. Through qualitative methods, including stakeholder interviews and document analysis, the study examines the contemporary roles of traditional authorities and their interactions with municipal governance structures. It critically assesses the policy framework guiding traditional governance in South Africa and explores how these authorities can be better integrated into governance processes. The study argues that good governance is defined by its ability to meet the needs of the broader populace, not simply select groups. It proposes a formalised polycentric governance framework that elevates traditional authorities as key actors in local government, with a focus on areas such as administrative hierarchy, development planning, land governance, and natural resource management. This framework is expected to support socioeconomic development and improve service delivery, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas of the North-West and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. AFRIKAANS : Hierdie artikel ondersoek die rol van tradisionele owerhede binne die kom-plekse bestuurstrukture van Suid-Afrika, spesifiek in die Noordwes- en KwaZulu-Natal-provinsies. Polisentriese bestuur, wat veelvuldige, onderling gekoppelde besluitnemingsentrums behels wat on-afhanklik funksioneer maar tog interaf-hanklik is, vorm die teoretiese grondslag vir hierdie studie. In Suid-Afrika staar mu-nisipale bestuur uitdagings in die gesig as gevolg van die dubbelsinnige rol van tradisionele owerhede, wat die ontwikkeling van landelike gebiede belemmer het. Daar is tans geen duidelike raamwerk in die Noordwes- en KwaZulu-Natal-provinsies wat uiteensit hoe tradisionele owerhede doeltreffend binne die breër regeringstelsel kan funksioneer nie. Hierdie navorsing het ten doel om 'n raamwerk te ontwikkel wat die bestuurs-relevansie van tradisionele owerhede verbeter, met behulp van die konsep van polisentrisiteit en bestuursteorie. Deur middel van kwalitatiewe metodes, insluitend onderhoude met belangheb-bendes en dokumentontleding, ondersoek die studie die hedendaagse rolle van tradisionele owerhede en hul inter-aksies met munisipale bestuurstrukture. Dit beoordeel die beleidsraamwerk wat tradisionele bestuur in Suid-Afrika rig, en krities ondersoek hoe hierdie owerhede beter by bestuursprosesse geïntegreer kan word. Die studie voer aan dat goeie bestuur gedefinieer word deur sy vermoë om aan die behoeftes van die breër bevolking te voldoen, nie net uitgesoekte groepe nie. Dit stel 'n geformaliseerde polisentriese bestuursraamwerk voor wat tradisionele owerhede as sleutelakteurs in plaaslike regering verhef, met 'n fokus op areas soos administratiewe hiërargie, ontwikkelingsbeplanning, grondbestuur en natuurlike hulpbronbestuur. Hierdie raamwerk sal na verwagting sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling ondersteun en dienslewering verbeter, veral in lande-like en buitestedelike gebiede van die Noordwes- en KwaZulu-Natal-provinsies. OTHER : Sengoliloeng sena se hlahloba karolo ea balaoli ba setso ka har'a likarolo tse rarahaneng tsa puso ea Afrika Boroa, haholo liprofinseng tsa Leboya-Bophirima le KwaZulu-Natal. Puso ea polycentric, e kenyelletsang litsi tse ngata tsa ho etsa liqeto tse hokahaneng tse sebetsang ka boikemelo empa li itsetlehile ka tse ling, li theha motheo oa thuto-thuto ena. Afrika Borwa, puso ya bomasepala e tobane le diphephetso, ka lebaka la karolo e sa hlakang ya bal-aodi ba setso, e sitisitseng ntshetsopele ya dibaka tsa mahaeng. Hajoale ha ho na moralo o hlakileng liproflnseng tsa Leboya-Bophirima le KwaZulu-Natal o hlalosang kamoo balaodi ba setso ba ka sebetsang ka katleho ka hara tsamaiso e pharalletseng ya puso. Patlisiso ena e ikemiselitse ho theha moralo o ntlafatsang bohlokoa ba puso ea balaoli ba setso, ho latela mohopolo oa polycentricity le theory ea puso. Ka mekhoa ea boleng, ho kenyeletsoa lipuisano le bankakarolo le tlhahlobo ea litokomane, phuputso e hlahloba mesebetsi ea sejoale-joale ea balaoli ba setso le likamano tsa bona le mekhatlo ea puso ea masepala. E hlahloba ka hloko moralo oa leano le tataisang puso ea setso Afrika Boroa le ho hlahloba hore na babusi bana ba ka kopanngoa hamolemo joang le lits'ebetso tsa puso. Boithuto bona bo bolela hore puso e ntle e hlalosoa ke bokhoni ba eona ba ho fihlela litlhoko tsa sechaba ka bo-phara, eseng feela ho khetha lihlopha. E sisinya moralo o hlophisitsoeng oa puso ea li- polycentric tse phahamisang balaoli ba setso joalo ka batsehetsi ba ka sehloohong pusong ea libaka, ho tsepamisitsoe maikutlo libakeng tse kang bolaoli ba tsamaiso, moralo oa nts'etsopele, puso ea mobu, le tsamaiso ea mehloli ea tlhaho. Letlhomeso leno le solofetswe go tshegetsa tlhabololo ya ikonomi ya loago le go tokafatsa kabo ya ditirelo, segolobogolo kwa dikgao-long tsa metseselegae le tse di fa thoko ga ditoropo tsa diporofense tsa Bokone-Bophirima le KwaZulu-Natal.