KZN elections for amakhosi and izinduna projected to cost R47 million in 2027
Image: KZN Legislature
The elections for amakhosi and izinduna in KwaZulu-Natal could cost more than R47 million if they go ahead in 2027.
This was revealed by the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) during a first-quarter report on 2025/26 financials to the KZN Legislature portfolio committee on Tuesday.
The department receives an allocation of R187 million but still has to dip into its budget to cover the rest of the funding for approximately 300 amakhosi and izinduna in the province.
Mthandeni Dlungwana, an ANC MPL, raised the question of whether izinduna and amakhosi have completed their five-year terms and when elections will be held.
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Marlaine Nair, chairperson of the CoGTA committee, said they were told that the elections would go ahead in February 2025.
Velenkosini Hlabisa, the minister of CoGTA, announced in May 2025 that the Constitutional Court ruled to extend the validity of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act (TKLA) for a further two years.
Hlabisa explained that the Concourt has granted supplementary, just, and equitable relief to prevent the imminent expiry of the suspension period related to the declaration of constitutional invalidity of the TKLA.
'The declaration of invalidity of the TKLA has been suspended until 29 May 2027, allowing additional time for the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Bill to be concluded,' he said.
This two-year extension enables CoGTA and Parliament to conduct thorough consultations and finalise the legislative process. Hlabisa has requested the Department of Traditional Affairs to intensify efforts to expedite the Bill's completion.
He added that the TKLB is a critical piece of legislation. It seeks to formally recognise the Khoi and San communities and their leadership structures, while also addressing the deficiencies of the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act, No. 41 of 2003.
Once enacted, the Bill will provide a legal framework to recognize and regulate Traditional and Khoi-San leadership institutions, clearly outlining their roles, responsibilities, and engagement with the government. This represents both a responsibility and an opportunity to promote inclusive governance.
Dr Joey Krishnan, acting HOD of CoGTA, stated at the legislature that processes are under way in the department to prepare for the elections.
'The quotation we received two years ago was R47 million as a province just to run the elections. We are busy working on it. We could use the Electoral Commission of South Africa or an election agency. The department had engaged an election agency previously for this purpose, and then the court challenge came along,' she explained.
On the recognition of izinduna, she explained that the amakhosi nominate izinduna and not CoGTA. Once an induna is nominated, it has to go through to the provincial executive council for approval and recognition.
'When that happens, it is gazetted. It is only at the time of gazetting that CoGTA will then put the izinduna on the payroll. We now have a system in place where amakhosi and izinduna are comfortable with the headcount,' she said.
Krishnan said that the amahhosi provides CoGTA with a monthly update on izinduna.
'We are undertaking the current confirmation of all izinduna. We have completed eThekwini, Ugu, and Amajuba municipalities. We went to the Cabinet a week ago. We are now recognising 35 izinduna through that process. We hope to have that concluded in this financial quarter. We are going through per district to fast-track the process,' she explained.
zainul.dawood@inl.co.za
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Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ Marlaine Nair, chairperson of the CoGTA committee, said they were told that the elections would go ahead in February 2025. Velenkosini Hlabisa, the minister of CoGTA, announced in May 2025 that the Constitutional Court ruled to extend the validity of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act (TKLA) for a further two years. Hlabisa explained that the Concourt has granted supplementary, just, and equitable relief to prevent the imminent expiry of the suspension period related to the declaration of constitutional invalidity of the TKLA. 'The declaration of invalidity of the TKLA has been suspended until 29 May 2027, allowing additional time for the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Bill to be concluded,' he said. This two-year extension enables CoGTA and Parliament to conduct thorough consultations and finalise the legislative process. Hlabisa has requested the Department of Traditional Affairs to intensify efforts to expedite the Bill's completion. He added that the TKLB is a critical piece of legislation. It seeks to formally recognise the Khoi and San communities and their leadership structures, while also addressing the deficiencies of the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act, No. 41 of 2003. Once enacted, the Bill will provide a legal framework to recognize and regulate Traditional and Khoi-San leadership institutions, clearly outlining their roles, responsibilities, and engagement with the government. This represents both a responsibility and an opportunity to promote inclusive governance. Dr Joey Krishnan, acting HOD of CoGTA, stated at the legislature that processes are under way in the department to prepare for the elections. 'The quotation we received two years ago was R47 million as a province just to run the elections. We are busy working on it. We could use the Electoral Commission of South Africa or an election agency. The department had engaged an election agency previously for this purpose, and then the court challenge came along,' she explained. On the recognition of izinduna, she explained that the amakhosi nominate izinduna and not CoGTA. Once an induna is nominated, it has to go through to the provincial executive council for approval and recognition. 'When that happens, it is gazetted. It is only at the time of gazetting that CoGTA will then put the izinduna on the payroll. We now have a system in place where amakhosi and izinduna are comfortable with the headcount,' she said. Krishnan said that the amahhosi provides CoGTA with a monthly update on izinduna. 'We are undertaking the current confirmation of all izinduna. We have completed eThekwini, Ugu, and Amajuba municipalities. We went to the Cabinet a week ago. We are now recognising 35 izinduna through that process. We hope to have that concluded in this financial quarter. We are going through per district to fast-track the process,' she explained.
