South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal province minister for Traditional Affairs, Mike Mabuyakhulu, leads a delegation of traditional leaders to Ghana to study how democratic institutions in that country work together with traditional institutions.

The trip comes in the wake of transformation changes facing the institution of traditional leaders in the province.

Ghana is one the countries in which traditional leadership and democratically elected structures have worked together and it is hoped the province will learn something from that experience.

Recently Mabuyakhulu announced fundamental changes to the institution of traditional leaders in the province which would see for the first time the establishment of new houses of traditional leaders at the level of district municipalities.

Spokesperson for the department, Lennox Mabaso, said the move was aimed at addressing the long standing conflict between traditional leaders and councilors which had derailed development especially in rural areas.

On August 28 members of the new houses of traditional leaders will be sworn in.

The new houses will then reconstitute themselves every five years.