Cape Town – A political clash has erupted in KwaZulu-Natal over the newly approved pension and medical aid benefits for amakhosi and izinduna, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) sharply divided on the matter.
According to The Mercury, the scheme, known as the Amakhosi Legacy Plan, was given the green light by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). The plan is set to provide both retirement and medical benefits for traditional leaders, with contributions shared between government and beneficiaries.
MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) in KZN, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, welcomed the FSCA’s approval, calling it “a significant breakthrough.” He said, “This initiative affirms our dedication to honouring the invaluable role played by amakhosi in our communities. It upholds their dignity by ensuring they have a structured savings mechanism that will be accessible upon retirement.”
The DA expressed concerns about the financial implications of the scheme. As stated by DA MPL Marlaine Nair, “The approval of the new Amakhosi Pension Fund comes at a time when CoGTA had lost its clean audit, failed to pay creditors on time, and municipalities across KZN are collapsing under financial strain and poor service delivery.”
Nair further questioned the sustainability of the project, asking, “Where is the money coming from? Is it sustainable? We cannot repeat the mistake of creating another unfunded mandate as we did previously with traditional leadership wages.”
As reported by The Witness, the IFP distanced itself from Nair’s statement, saying it did not reflect the collective view of the CoGTA portfolio committee. IFP spokesperson Otto Kunene accused Nair of acting unilaterally, saying, “Rejecting the extension of these benefits to amakhosi reflects a shallow understanding of the critical role they play in the governance ecosystem of our country.”
Kunene added, “It would have been preferable if the chairperson had consulted with us before issuing such a statement. There is no justification for withholding the same benefits from amakhosi that are enjoyed by councillors, parliamentarians and legislators.”
Cultural experts have also weighed in. According to SowetanLive, UKZN senior lecturer Dr Gugu Mazibuko described the plan as “progressive and long overdue,” arguing that traditional leaders are a vital bridge between government structures and grassroots communities.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
