Probe into recategorising headmen

THE Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs is conducting research into izinduna (headmen) as a category of traditional leaders as part of efforts to resolve the failure to pay their salaries in some provinces.

Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Zweli Mkhize said his department and the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Office Bearers were looking into the issues around izinduna.

“We have a team that must work between Cogta and Judge Musi to try to refine the issues that are being raised,” Mkhize said.

He was responding to questions from parliamentarians in the National Council of Province (NCOP).

UDM’s Lennox Gaehler said Zuma had previously committed to the NCOP that

izinduna would be paid salaries. “To date that has not happened. However, KwaZulu-Natal has paid R800million to izinduna, which is an audit query,” Gaehler said. “You can’t have two sets of law. Why are izinduna not paid in other provinces?”

In 2016, the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Office Bearers recommended that the annual salaries of

izinduna be R96 460, up from R91 000. The commission, now headed by Judge John Musi, inquires into the remuneration and conditions of service of the president and his cabinet, MPs, MPLs, judges, councillors and traditional leaders.

The salaries for izinduna are being paid in some provinces, like the Eastern Cape.