Democracy Compromised

Chiefs and the politics of land in South Africa Democracy Compromised puts the spotlight on traditional authorities and addresses two main issues: first, how despite their role in the apartheid state, traditional authorities not only survived, but have won unprecedented powers of rural governance in South Africas democracy, and second, how they derive their authority. In this original and compelling study, Lungisile Ntsebeza carefully details the fascinating history of the chieftaincy in the Xhalanga area of the Eastern Cape. He shows how traditional authorities have been dependent on the support of the state since the advent of colonialism and how deeply traditional structures have been contested. Light is shed on the unexpected renaissance of these authorities under ANC rule and the role of traditional leaders in the process of land allocation is clearly explained. Written by one of the leading scholars on the South African land reform programme and democratisation in rural South Africa, this book will be of particular interest to academics, researchers, students, activists and policy makers. A co-publication with Brill Academic Publishers (ISBN 9-0041-4482-X)

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Foreword

1. Traditional authorities, democracy and the land question: Some conceptual and theoretical considerations
2. The Xhalanga district and its people : 1865 – 1883
3. The land question and local governance in Xhalanga : 1883-1924
4. Rural local governance in Xhalanga in the era of the District Council: The struggle continues
5. Tribal authorities and the revival of chieftainship in Xhalanga
6. Tshisa, tshisa (Burn, burn): The struggle against tribal authorities intensifies
7. The era of Bantu Authorities in the Xhalanga district: A decentralised despotism?
8. Democracy compromised: post-1994 retribalisation
9. Conclusion

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Index

Dr Lungisile Ntsebeza is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Cape Town. Since 1995 he has focused on the South African land reform programme and democratisation in rural South Africa.