The Vhembe District Local House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, in partnership with the Office of the DVC Research and Postgraduate Studies at the University of Venda (UNIVEN), hosted a historic two-day summit from 28-29 August 2025 at the Meropa Sun Hotel, Polokwane. Themed “Strengthening Constitutional Democracy through Traditional Leaders: A District Summit for Enhancing the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act of 2019,” the gathering brought together Senior Traditional Leaders, officials from both the Limpopo Provincial and Vhembe District Houses of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, UNIVEN students and staff. Primarily, this was a platform to unpack the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act of 2019 and explore ways to strengthen it following the Constitutional Court’s declaration of invalidity in 2023.
In his opening remarks, Hosi Given Bungeni expressed heartfelt gratitude to UNIVEN, particularly the Office of Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Postgraduate Studies, for the commitment to co-hosting the two-day gathering. “The summit has been convened to critically review sections of the Act, provide informed inputs, and map a way forward for submission to Parliament, to safeguard the future of traditional leadership,” he said.
Hosi Bungeni highlighted the significance of this partnership, noting its historic character and alignment with Women’s Month. He expressed the optimism that the day’s deliberations would yield positive results for traditional leadership locally, nationally and beyond,” he concluded.
Prof Joseph Francis, in his keynote reflection, emphasised the historic importance of the summit and recognised the role of female traditional leaders. “As both men and women participants, we have the clear duty to play the role of ‘midwives of societal progress.” This summit has three key objectives: strengthening traditional and Khoi-San leadership in line with community voices and constitutional democracy, strengthening and finally adopting the co-created draft partnership charter before us, and deliberating on the 2023 Integrated Rural Development Sector Strategy, including adoption of a tool to profile all Traditional Communities,” he stated. He cautioned that strategies emerging from the summit must not remain abstract. Continuing with his address, Prof Francis emphasised the fact that the results of the workshop should be taken back to grassroots communities to ensure effective leadership that directly impacts the lived realities of our people. He argued that this ensured accountability and transformative governance.
Prof Francis further explained why UNIVEN had brought together a broad range of expertise into the Summit. “We deliberately mobilised anthropologists, heritage studies specialists, engaged scholars, lawyers specialising in public law, students and interns to work alongside traditional leaders. Their perspectives are vital in linking indigenous knowledge with academic research to generate practical solutions for challenges such as succession disputes, financial accountability, water and sanitation and social development. This partnership framework reflects our university’s desire to combine scholarly insight with cultural wisdom to create sustainable change,” he added.
The significant participation of UNIVEN’s Deputy Deans: Research and Postgraduate Studies from all four Faculties was acknowledged and explained as central to the emerging long-term partnership. Furthermore, the strong turnout from traditional leaders was recognised and celebrated. About two-thirds of the Senior Traditional Leaders in Vhembe District are participating in this summit. This reflects a strong, shared commitment to finding African solutions to African issues together,” he remarked.
Importantly, Prof Francis reminded the participants that this summit was building on earlier engagements. In particular, he cited the 27 May 2025 workshop held at UNIVEN’s Research Conference Centre, which culminated in the official submission of a 29-page document to the Parliamentary Constitutional Review Committee, and the 18 August 2025 Limpopo Provincial workshop co-hosted at Park Inn Hotel in Polokwane. Both engagements provided solid foundations for the current deliberations.
Day One of the summit was structured around three priority areas, namely:
- Deliberations on feedback from the 18 August provincial workshop, which sought to define the nature and form of the partnership between UNIVEN and the Houses of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders.
- Breakout group discussions on the tenets of the Integrated Rural Development Sector Strategy of 2023.
- Shaping of the UNIVEN–Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders Partnership Charter.
Members of the Vhembe District Executive Committee (Hosi Bungeni, Thovhele Mulima, Tho-vhele Mphephu, Thovhele Mashau and Hosi Mavambe) led the breakout sessions, focusing on an assessment tool to measure levels of rural development within traditional authorities and pri-oritising the key components of the proposed Partnership Charter. As he concluded his address, Prof Francis praised the spirit of teamwork and commitment of the Senior Traditional leaders in seeing the partnership flourish.
Later in the day, participants engaged in plenary and breakout group sessions that unpacked and interrogated the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act of 2019. Ms Zama Mopai of UNIVEN’s School of Law guided the session, reminding participants that the Constitutional Court declared the Act invalid in 2023 due to inadequate public participation, amongst other reasons.
She clarified that the traditional leaders had the responsibility to critically review the Act’s pro-visions and address the contentious sections and clauses in preparation for Parliament’s re-consideration. While noting the Act’s progress in recognising Khoi-San communities, promoting gender inclusion and advancing democratic representation, Ms Mopai flagged ongoing challeng-es such as contradictions in the law, unresolved land rights, gaps in accountability and lingering colonial governance tendencies.
The Department of Public Law’s Dr Crystal Mokoena, Ms Zama Mopai and Adv Norman Raphulu facilitated three parallel plenary sessions to support traditional leaders in reviewing the Tradi-tional and Khoi-San Leadership Act (TKLA) of 2019. The sessions focused on key areas, including traditional communities, leadership roles, and the composition of traditional councils, aiming to inform submissions for the Act’s revision following the Constitutional Court’s 2023 ruling on in-adequate public participation. Discussions highlighted concerns such as ambiguous definitions, unclear council election processes, and the exclusion of customary leadership roles like Makhadzi, Hahani, or Rakgadi. Post-breakout deliberations were robust, addressing issues like royal family membership criteria, the interface between traditional leadership and municipalities, and the need for budget allocations to enhance council functionality. The sessions underscored the importance of clarity, inclusivity, and constitutional alignment in the legislative framework.
The sessions underscored the need for clarity, inclusivity and constitutional alignment. Post-break-out group discussions were characterised by intense and robust deliberations on various issues such as the composition of Traditional Councils, who qualified to be a member of the Royal Fam-ily, inclusion of Makhadzi, Hahani or Rakgadi in the Act, interfacing Traditional Leadership and Municipalities, and provision of budgets to Traditional Councils to enhance their functionality.
In closing Day One, Prof Takalani Mashau (Deputy Dean of Research and Postgraduate Studies in the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education) extended his appreciation to the par-ticipants for their commitment and robust engagements. “The amendments under discussion represent a lasting legacy for future generations. Your contributions today reaffirm the impor-tance of our collective responsibility to shape the future of traditional leadership,” he said.
The summit continued on 29 August 2025 with anticipation for further dialogue, consolidation of inputs, and adoption of resolutions aimed at strengthening constitutional democracy through the active participation of traditional leaders.
Day two began with the welcome remarks by Prof Vhonani Netshandama, Director of Commu-nity Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Innovation, and Commercialisation at UNIVEN, expressing deep appreciation of the progressive leadership of the University, particularly Prof Francis, acknowledging the difficult yet important work of aligning academic spaces with African traditions despite institutional resistance. Gratitude was also extended to the Deputy Deans and traditional leaders (Vho Thovhele na Vho Ndabezitha) for holding the University account-able and ensuring that African ways of being, knowing and doing are not lost in the adoption of foreign laws and systems. Emphasising that true leadership does not compromise identity, Prof Netshandama cautioned against education and research that merely reproduce colonial approaches without challenge, stressing that collective wisdom, recognition and a commitment to the public good must guide decisions for the benefit of future generations.
A recap of Day one was presented by Dr Crystal Mokoena (Acting Head of Department of Public Law), setting the tone for subsequent in-depth discussions. Dr Mokoena provided a structured recap of the first day’s proceedings, highlighting a symbolic unity exercise that underscored collaboration. She noted that the welcoming address by Hosi Bungeni and the overview by Prof Francis laid a strong foundation for the day’s discussions, which centred on a detailed exam-ination of the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act (TLKA) of 2019. The Summit explored its guiding principles, leadership roles, and the composition of traditional structures, while also raising concerns about inadequate consultation, the exclusion of certain customary roles, and challenges with leadership transitions. Concluding her reflections, Dr Mokoena emphasised that the deliberations had established a solid basis for refining the Act to ensure it remains represen-tative, constitutional and responsive to community needs and aspirations.
This was followed by a presentation on the feedback session by Prof Takalani Mashau. He point-ed out that feedback from the breakout sessions highlighted debates around the definition of the royal family, leadership composition and removal of the Deputy leader role. He noted that many of these provisions lacked clarity and required careful reconsideration, while also point-ing out gaps in the roles of kingships and councils that must be addressed in the Act’s revision. Emphasising the importance of sustained dialogue, he stressed that the summit’s conversations should extend beyond the gathering to inform meaningful reform. With the striking remark, if we fail to convince them, we will confuse them,” he underscored traditional leaders’ determination to be heard, affirming that the session’s resolutions would significantly contribute to the national review process.
A pivotal moment came during the plenary session, where Thovhele Masia, representing tradi-tional leaders, deliberated and shared resolutions on the implementation of the TLKA, reinforcing their commitment to accountable and people-centred leadership. He said the Act emphasised the need for inclusive participation and proactive preparation ahead of the 2027 parliamenta-ry process. He noted that earlier departmental consultations were rushed and excluded many voices, but stressed that traditional leaders must now consolidate their contributions, align pro-vincial positions and produce a unified report. He called for collaboration among local houses, universities and other provinces to lobby for a common stance, ensuring that by 2027, traditional leaders across the country speak with one voice in shaping the future of traditional leadership.
Ms Zama Mopai highlighted the importance of the Mokgale Constitutional Court case, which de-clared the TLKA invalid due to the inadequate and flawed public participation. She explained that although the Act continues to operate for a further 24 months under suspension of invalidity, the Court’s ruling emphasised the constitutional requirement of meaningful community participa-tion. Parliament, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), and provincial legislatures had failed to provide sufficient notice, language accessibility, logistical support and fair reporting of views. Moreover, public participation was limited largely to traditional leaders, excluding community members whose lives are directly affected by the law.
Ms Mopai stressed that while traditional leaders had raised their own concerns and contributed their ideas, it is crucial for them to take responsibility to ensure that community members are fully involved in the upcoming public participation processes. She urged all traditional leaders to mobilise their communities, allow space for diverse and dissenting views, and ensure that sub-missions reflect both the voices of traditional leaders and ordinary people. As she concluded, Ms Mopai called for commitment and proactive organisation so that future engagements on the Act truly represent the will of the people and meet constitutional standards.
The summit concluded with a workshop evaluation led by Prof Makondelele Radzilani, Deputy Dean Research and Postgraduate Studies in the Faculty of Health Sciences, stressing she loves working on evidence-based results and facilitated the session and allowed traditional leaders to give their two-day summit observation feedback. Several Traditional leaders reflected and affirmed that the summit achieved its intended objectives. They were happy for the opportunity that the Summit presented, including the value of shared learning, mutual guidance and the overall positive experience gained from the discussions. The leaders emphasised that the TLKA affected all traditional leaders and should not be viewed as a new piece of legislation. Rather, it was a continuation of existing frameworks. They further expressed their commitment to collab-orating with the university, noting that such partnerships would add significant value in guiding future processes.
Thovhele Gole Mphaphuli gave a vote of thanks and highlighted the significance of the summit as a platform for gratitude, learning and collaboration, acknowledging Prof Francis and his UNIVEN team of facilitators for their instrumental roles in its success. He emphasised how such initia-tives empower traditional leaders, despite challenges of marginalisation, by strengthening their knowledge, reinforcing their role in legislative processes, and fostering community development. The workshop showcased the value of academic–traditional partnerships in driving national con-versations on key issues, promoting active participation in governance and positioning tradition-al leaders as key agents of change beyond just custodianship of culture.
Prof Francis then stepped in to give insights on the next steps post-Summit. He said leaders from across the Vhembe District shared and echoed the sentiment that traditional governance structures remain relevant in a democratic society. He highlighted the progress made during the workshop, noting that participants engaged with an assessment tool to gauge the state of rural development in their areas, the results of which will inform interventions going forward. He stressed the need to balance traditional leaders’ perspectives with those of Traditional Councils and grassroots communities (children, youth, adults and other community structures). Discus-sions also focused on partnership contributions and the consolidation of group inputs to for-malise a memorandum of understanding between the university and the Vhembe Local House of Traditional and Khoi-San leaders.
Emphasising the importance of collaboration, communication and accessibility, he underscored that the university seeks to work with traditional leaders, not in their areas, to build a mean-ingful and lasting partnership that extends beyond Vhembe District, strengthening both local relevance and global competitiveness. The participants endorsed the following:
- That the tool for assessing the level of rural development in traditional authority areas should be used to deepen perspectives beyond Senior Traditional leaders, ensuring that voices of various groups, including young people, adults, and local structures, are amplified.
- The UNIVEN team and the Executive Committee of the local house would meet to firm up the Partnership Charter in preparation for a workshop where it would be endorsed and eventually signed to cement the birth of a long-term working relationship.
- Further engagement sessions will be organised to take place at agreed dates in Collins Chabane, Makhado, Musina and Thulamela Local Municipalities.
- The Senior Traditional leaders would lead in mobilising their communities to be ready to participate in anticipated engagements organised by the national Parliament and NCOP.
- The UNIVEN team would generate scholarly outputs that would further amplify the per spectives in this and subsequent engagements.
This historic summit between UNIVEN and the traditional leaders from Vhembe District has shown the transformative power of a purposeful partnership, where academic insight meets cultural wisdom to strengthen constitutional democracy. Through engaging deeply with the Act, amplifying community voices and committing to sustained collaboration, traditional leaders and scholars from UNIVEN are shaping a future where governance is inclusive, accountable and re-sponsive.
This milestone is a reminder that meaningful change is built not in isolation but through mean-ingful engagement, shared purpose and a commitment to the public good. Together, we are ensuring that traditional leadership remains a vibrant, relevant and guiding force for generations to come.
Women Traditional Leaders, from L-R: Thovhele Makuya, Mutele and Mphephu
Displaying pride in African attire are from L-Rt: Ms Doris Mutobvu, Prof Makondelele Radzilani, Ms Madidimalo of CoGHSTA and Ms Phumudzo Munyai-Matshotshi
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