An important feature of the South African Constitution is its demand for equality. However, the same Constitution protects the right of persons belonging to traditional communities to enjoy their culture with other members of the community, though this right might not be exercised in a manner that infringes the equality rights of women. Notwithstanding this guarantee, there are numerous examples where women’s rights are still being disregarded in a traditional setting.
Existing legislation and future developments hold out the promise that a constitutionally aligned institution of traditional leadership could be an effective partner in the promotion of democracy and service delivery in government, but it seems that we have not yet reached that point. An important aspect that has been neglected so far, is the role of women in traditional governance. The purpose of the workshop is to brainstorm legal challenges faced by female traditional leaders involved in traditional governance in South Africa and elsewhere.
For more information, please contact - Rieëtte Venter (Faculty of Law)