Cogta to curb collections by chiefs
The government has vowed to clamp down on traditional leaders ‘illegally’ collecting tarrifs from their subjects.
|||Durban - The government has vowed to clamp down on traditional leaders “illegally” collecting tarrifs from their subjects.
The KZN Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs is working on a policy to curb the collections from community members in various traditional councils (TC).
The 2014/2015 Auditor-General report flagged the absence of an approved policy to regulate tariff collection and said this made monitoring revenue collected from communities “extremely” difficult.
The report said the problem came to light during consultations with traditional councils.
In KwaHlatshwayo traditional council, in the Umzinyathi District Municipality, the district office had confiscated the current receipt book while investigations were pending.
An area chief was accused of taking revenue collected by the secretary for his personal use.
“From the discussions held with the secretary, it was revealed that headmen were collecting revenue and handing it over to the chiefs. No approved delegation has been granted to these persons to collect the money for the TC.
In Bovu TC, in the same district, it was noted that although the council had been classified as dormant, izinduna were collecting revenue.
Discussions with secretaries in various councils revealed that Inkosi Nomvula Ntombela of the Lukhwazi TC, in Zululand, had also been collecting money from the community illegally,” reads the report.
The report was tabled before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts at the provincial legislature last week.
Ntombela has denied any knowledge of the allegations by the Auditor-General.
“I can’t say much on this allegation because it is gossip to me as the relevant people have not contacted me for discussion or clarity on their allegations. It is disturbing for government to interfere in issues of traditional leadership and not engage individuals suspected of wrongdoing,” Ntombela told the Daily News.
The report further reveals that the problems in the Lukhwazi council were as a result of a dispute between two acclaimed leaders, one of whom had not been granted authority to collect revenue from the community.
Ntombela said she was aware that there were people who worked with individuals within the department to interfere with her running of her territory.
The Auditor-General recommended that the department should investigate the issues with a view to regularising revenue collection in traditional councils.
Responding to the report, MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube said the policy development process would be finalised once the Bill had been adopted by legislature.
She said the department has developed a draft template to assist district managers in handling traditional council issues.
“The issue of amakhosi and traditional councils is a complex one. We do need to sit and discuss whether they should be regarded as public office bearers or just traditional leaders.
“Without a policy in place that will guide how they operate, we can’t just impose instructions on them.”
She said the department had completed research, on traditional Zulu leadership
and hoped this would guide it on how to deal with tariff charges and control over the money collected from communities.
An employee at the department said some of the tariffs were “ridiculous”.
“If you decide to relocate, you will pay a fee at the inkosi and when you get to your new location, another fee is needed for the inkosi of the area. Poor rural people are really taken advantage of,” said the employee.
However, inkosi Phathisizwe Chiliza, chairman of the KZN House of Traditional Leaders, defended the paying and collection of tariffs.
“The department can have the policy in place, but one that will set clear boundaries for both parties. Paying of tariffs to inkosi is an old practice. We have built schools and churches in our communities using these offers,” said Chiliza.
The KZN Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs is studying a report into taxes and levies collected from rural communities.
Addressing provincial cabinet members and the Auditor-General at the legislature last week, MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube said they had received the findings of the study, but the department’s legal people were still scrutinising it.
The study was commissioned in 2005 to respond to issues previously raised by Scopa that tax and levy collection fell outside the ambit of the Income Taxation Act of 1997 and the Public Finance Management Act of 1999.
The Daily News understands the study looked into a list of taxes and levies, how much was charged and who was subjected to these charges.
It was also found that varying amounts were paid for the following:
Ukukhonza (permission to settle);
Tilling the land; grazing of stock; cutting of grass for thatch;
Imvalelisa (bidding farewell to a community before relocating);
Residence in an area / annual tribal levy; and
Personal dues to the Inkosi which include:
Contributions to ilobolo (bride price) for uNdlunkulu;
To the wedding of Inkosi’s son or daughter (imicilelo);
Contributions towards Inkosi’s travel to official meetings;
School building funds;
Izimbizo (community meetings);
Fines paid when a girl falls pregnant outside of wedlock;
Dog tax; and
Fees paid for applying for birth and death certificates, marriage certificate; and proof of residence, among others.
Daily News
*E-mail your opinion to IOLletters@inl.co.za and we will consider it for publication or use our Facebook and Twitter pages to comment on our stories. See links below.