The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA) is a South African non-governmental pressure group which was formed in 1987 by some of the traditional leaders of the homeland of
KwaNdebele
KwaNdebele was a bantustan in South Africa, intended by the apartheid government as a semi-independent homeland for the Ndebele people. The homeland was created when the South African government purchased nineteen white-owned farms and install ...
, with the support of the
United Democratic Front and the
African National Congress
The African National Congress (ANC) is a Social democracy, social-democratic political party in Republic of South Africa, South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when ...
. Contralesa helped to form the anti-apartheid front in the homelands, and continues to advocate greater rights for traditional leaders in the country in the post-apartheid era.
It also participates in both national and provincial traditional leaders' gatherings to garner support for legislation from non-Contralesa members.
LGBT issues
Contralesa has frequently taken a stance against the recognition of LGBT rights.
Statements by King Goodwill Zwelethini
Contralesa members criticised LGBT rights advocate groups for criticising Zulu traditional king
Goodwill Zwelethini kaBhekuzulu
King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu (27 July 1948 – 12 March 2021) was the reigning King of the Zulu nation from 1968 to his death in 2021.
He became King on the death on of his father, King Cyprian Bhekuzulu, in 1968 aged 20 years. Pr ...
, and contended that the translation by the journalist recording the statements was inaccurate.
Proposal to amend Section 9 of the Constitution
In 2012, Contralesa, through the NHTL, filed a draft document calling for the removal of LGBT rights from the
Constitution of South Africa
The Constitution of South Africa is the supreme law of the Republic of South Africa. It provides the legal foundation for the existence of the republic, it sets out the rights and duties of its citizens, and defines the structure of the Govern ...
. The group submitted a proposal to the Constitutional Review Committee of the National Assembly to amend section 9 of the Constitution; the Committee, at the time, was chaired by
Sango Patekile Holomisa MP, who is also president of Contralesa. Holomisa made comments pursuant to Contralesa's attempt.
Contralesa and Holomisa's comments were criticized by the
Democratic Alliance and constitutional law scholar
Pierre de Vos
Pierre Francois de Vos (born 29 June 1963) is a South African constitutional law scholar.
Early life
De Vos was born in Messina, Transvaal, (now Musina, Limpopo) and matriculated from Pietersburg High School in Pietersburg (now known as Polok ...
.
See also
*
National House of Traditional Leaders
The National House of Traditional Leaders is a body of 23 traditional leaders in South Africa, representing the eight provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders. Until 1998 it was called the National Council of Traditional Leaders.
Its role includes ...
References
External links
Contralesa
{{Political history of South Africa
Civic and political organisations of South Africa