Understanding the manifestation of conflict between traditional leaders and ward committees, A case of Greater Giyani Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

In South Africa's municipalities, there has been an age-old coexistence between elected and traditional leaders. This coexistence has, however, been threatened by numerous multi-dimensional conflicts. These conflicts undermine the government's efforts at co-operative governance and can spiral out of control if not handled carefully. However, it appears priority has been given to violent conflicts, making it critical to understand and deal with all forms of conflicts before they escalate. This study attempts to address and reconcile this disjunction by offering informed insights on how conflicts between traditional leaders and ward committees in South Africa's Greater Giyani Municipality and elsewhere can be amicably resolved. This was done by using purposive sampling in which 33 participants were interviewed to solicit their insights and perceptions on this and other misunderstandings. The information they provided was analysed in ATLAS ti.22 and purposefully structured to provide work-around strategies for the way forward. The findings provided in this contribution are helpful because they offer empirically informed perspectives on enhancing the assimilation of tractable conflict resolution strategies between traditional leaders and ward committees.