The Mpumalanga Province marked a historic milestone with the official launch of the Mpumalanga Traditional Council on 22 January 2025. The event, held in the City of Mbombela, began with a prayer and opening remarks delivered by the Executive Mayor, Cllr of Mbombela.

Addressing the purpose of the traditional council elections, Mr S. Ngubane, Head of Department (HOD), highlighted the significance of the initiative. The traditional council, originally established in 2021 by President Cyril Ramaphosa, aims to transform and recognise traditional councils under the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act (TKLA) No. 3 of 2019, Section 16(1).

Under this act, traditional communities are empowered to nominate and vote for 40% of the council’s members to serve a five-year term. The remaining 60% is appointed by the senior traditional leader. This process ensures that communities can exercise their democratic right to choose leaders who will represent them in the traditional council.

The traditional council is tasked with playing a vital role in community development by collaborating with municipalities and government departments. It will also work alongside community councillors and speakers to enhance governance and service delivery within traditional communities.

Key Details of the Elections
The traditional council elections will take place across all 61 communities in Mpumalanga. Registration is scheduled from 20 to 24 January 2025, between 07:00 and 19:00 daily. Voting dates are as follows:

31 January 2025: Gert Sibande District
3 February 2025: Nkangala District
4 February 2025: Ehlanzeni District
Voters must ensure they cast their ballot at the location where they registered.

Nomination Requirements
Candidates wishing to be nominated for election must meet the following criteria:

Reside within the jurisdiction of the traditional community.
Hold a valid South African identity document.
Be registered on the voters’ roll.
Not be a public servant.
Not have already been selected as part of the 60% appointed by the senior traditional leader.
This launch and the subsequent elections signify a pivotal step in recognising the role of traditional leadership in fostering community development and ensuring that traditional councils work effectively with municipalities to serve their communities