Traditional laws and leaders important

MONWABISI Tutu of Queenstown writes: It is unprecedented that a reigning African traditional King, Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, is sentenced to jail for his actions while he was the Abathembu leader.

Some legal experts have arrived at the conclusion that African Customary Law was not extensively taught and learned by lawyers, including presiding officers in courts. During their law studies and while practising law, they were taught

BIRTHDAY

wishes are extended to Lindy Ann Rooy, Darren Boucher, Carin de Kramer, Christina Alexander and Anthony Stellenberg (today), Kurt Swartz and Gaylene Walters (January 24), Serano Whittaker (January 25), Chevené Loots who will celebrate her 21st birthday on January 25, Lirisha Swarts, Mariette Lemmer, Tom Hayes, Lirisha Swarts and Allison Stride (January 26), Richard de Kramer and Erna Staffen (January 28), Donatia Abrahams (January 29), Romaine Caroll-Strydom (January 30), JC Landman (January 31), Zweledinga Beje (February 1), Roman Dutch law/common law. African customary laws were not taught and consequently undermined.

The introduction of Roman Dutch law/common law rendered African customary laws inferior, with the reality that Western or foreign laws, to wit Roman Dutch law, assumed supremacy over customary traditional laws, an unfortunate situation.

This endorses the perception that African traditional laws and Sturgeon Smouse (February 2) and Michelle Lee (February 3).

BELATED birthday wishes to Lynne Hustler (January 15) and to Bongani Klaas (January 19).

NICO and Anné Visser celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary on January 15. Congratulations. Belated congratulations to Brian and Zina Meintjies.

Garry and Antoinette Godley will celebrate their 30th wedding the powers of traditional leadership are subjected to a westernised legal system.

The crimes said to have been committed by King Dalindyebo were committed before the enactment of the South African constitution of 1996.

The other issue seeks to render traditional leadership vulnerable is that the Traditional Leadership and Framework Act which is supposed to be the guiding tool for traditional leadership has loop-

KATE , younger daughter of Boy and Pat Stone, is to be married tomorrow. Best wishes to the happy couple.

CONGRATULATIONS to Jenna and Shaun Roux on the birth of their baby girl.

BEST wishes to Dordrecht Rep correspondent Charlotte van der Berg who is currently recovering from surgery. Wishes for a swift recovery are also sent to Peter Hayes, Vanessa van Wyk and David Miles.

CONDOLENCES to the fam- holes which make the role and scope of traditional leaders vague.

Traditional leaders are among the most important and this neglect by the government of their powers is a sad thing. It is important that government through the legal system find ways to clarify and value the status of customary laws and traditional laws. This does not suggest everyone is not equal before the law, nor that criminal acts should not be punishable. ily and friends of the late Vuyisile Poswa, Peter Ramsay, Shaun van Heerden, Bango Kohlakala, Nontozenele Mbona, Jacobus du Preez, Yonela Kiti, Nopintyi Maselana and Petrus Goosen.

FORMER director of technical services for Lukhanji Municipality, Piet Bezuidenhout, died in Cape Town on Sunday when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver while cycling. Our sympathy to his wife, Rosa.

PLEASE don’t forget to save water! Although some rains fell last week, the area remains critically dry and the dam levels low.