Policy & Advocacy
Policy Grounded in Tradition, Backed by Evidence.
South Africa’s National House of Traditional Leaders advises on laws and policies, but its impact depends on strong research and advocacy. RACC provides this support equipping kings and councils with evidence and analysis to influence legislation and ensure policies respect tradition and strengthen communities.
Custom and community belong in every law.
Overview Policy & Advocacy
Traditional Authority in Lawmaking
South Africa’s Constitution recognises traditional leadership, and the National House of Traditional Leaders advises Parliament on laws affecting custom, culture, and communities. Yet without strong research and advocacy, their influence often remains symbolic rather than practical.
RACC supports Policy & Advocacy by:
Research: Providing data and impact studies that strengthen traditional leaders’ submissions.
Advisory support: Helping kings and councils prepare responses to draft laws and policies.
Coordination: Linking traditional leaders with civil society and business allies to amplify their message..
RACC Responds: We translate cultural values into policy language that lawmakers understand. By producing research, case studies, and submissions, we ensure tradition is not ignored but woven into national debates and legislation.
A strong policy voice is essential to protect tradition and shape just laws. By supporting research, drafting submissions, and coordinating advocacy
RACC works alongside royal leaders to provide the evidence, analysis, and tools needed to turn tradition into policy impact.
Current Issues: Why We Need Policy & Advocacy
A Royal Charter is a covenant of recognition and blessing from traditional leaders.
1. Policies That Overlook Rural Life
Many laws are written in Pretoria and Cape Town, far from the lived experience of rural communities. Too often, policies focus on urban priorities while villages face broken water systems, underfunded schools, and neglected infrastructure.
RACC supports Policy & Advocacy by::
Bridging the gap: Gathering local experiences and translating them into policy recommendations.
Evidence building: Producing research that shows how national policy decisions affect rural communities.
Policy engagement: Ensuring traditional leaders present this evidence directly to lawmakers.
Major Cases:
Water & sanitation policy: Many rural areas remain unconnected despite government promises.
Healthcare rollouts: Clinics in villages underfunded compared to city hospitals.
Transport planning: Lack of inclusion of rural rail and road links that connect communities to economic hubs.
2. No Clear Cultural Lens in Policy
Communities want laws that reflect their culture, leadership, and daily realities. But too often, national policies are written in broad strokes, with little grounding in traditional systems or rural life.
Problematic Gaps in the Current System
Culture sidelined: Customary law and traditional practice rarely feature in official policy documents.
Loss of identity: Policies risk erasing the unique role of traditional leadership in governance.
Disconnect with people: Communities see policies that don’t reflect their way of life, weakening trust in government.
RACC Responds: We translate cultural values into policy language that lawmakers understand. By producing research, case studies, and submissions, we ensure tradition is not ignored but woven into national debates and legislation.
3. No Accountability in Implementation
Communities want laws that reflect their culture, leadership, and daily realities. But too often, national policies are written in broad strokes, with little grounding in traditional systems or rural life.
Problematic Gaps in the Current System
Unenforced commitments: Policies name traditional leaders but exclude them from real decision-making.
Broken delivery: Laws promise services for rural communities, but budgets and projects stall.
No feedback loop: Communities lack a clear way to report when government fails to honour policies.
How RACC Is Involved
RACC helps royal leaders monitor how laws are applied in practice.
We support councils with research, tracking tools, and advocacy campaigns to hold government accountable, ensuring that policies move from paper to real change for communities.
How You Can Take Action
This is not just a fight for traditional leaders, this is a fight for every person who believes in justice, sovereignty, and heritage.
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The Future of Community Rights
"When tradition guides the law, people live better."
RACC helps traditional leaders take your community’s voice into Parliament, so policies respect culture, protect families, and bring fairness.
Stand with your leaders. Protect your way of life. Push for fair laws.
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RACC National Office, 468 Berea Street, Muckleneuk, Pretoria
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RACC is the official implementation agency of ROLESA.
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