OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development
Open-access peer-reviewed journal
https://doi.org/10.64211/oidaijsd190619
Revisiting How the Traditional Leaders in Pre- post-1994 Dealt with Anti-Corruption and Violence in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Sithembiso Mthembu 1, Lindelani Mpungose 2,*
1, 2 Department of African Languages and Culture, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa, South Africa.
* Corresponding Author: MthembuST@unizulu.ac.za
Volume 19, Issue 06, Pg. 241-258, 2026.
Abstract: The South African economy is in disarray due to regular reports of increased corruption. The increase in criminal activity shows that people are not frightened to commit crimes. According to this article, in the past, crimes used to occur in townships and were mainly minor offences like stealing little objects, but now the crime has increased more increases in rural areas. This article argues that after 1994 south Africa entered into the democratic system and it liberated people in many ways, gave people human rights (right to life), liberation from death sentences, etc. Due to human rights, people are not afraid to commit crimes because they rely on human rights that also protect them. Crime is steadily increasing, making the economy unstable, and businesspeople or companies from abroad may be frightened to invent by establishing businesses in a country that is notorious for violence and crime. This may make tourists hesitant to visit for adventure. Paying visits of people coming from different dimensions throughout the globe is also helpful for putting the country on the global map. Despite that, the perpetuation of crime also creates social unrest in both urban and rural areas and is detrimental to social well-being. This article argues that traditional leaders had means for fighting corruption and criminality. Therefore, people were afraid to commit crimes. Hence for power that is deprived to traditional leaders, crime and violence are increasing throughout the country. This article aimed to evaluate by revisiting the strategies that were utilised to overcome crime and violence as the resolution to the modern era. The evaluation of the procedures employed by traditional leaders in rural areas and the methods used by the government based on legal regulation. The study used the qualitative and interpretive research paradigm to evaluate the rural community techniques employed in rural communities to reduce violence and crime. Drawing on the Situational Crime Prevention (SCP) theory, which explains and provides techniques for preventing crime and violence in communities and addressing the existing circumstances. The findings underline the necessity for traditional leaders to work closely with the government to fight crime, domestic abuse, and abuse of children and women in rural areas. In conclusion, the study recommends the government collaborate with traditional leaders to reduce crime because the majority of criminals and serial killers grew up in rural areas.
Keywords: Anti-Corruption, Crime, and domestic violence, Traditional Leader’s Role, bureaucratic
Full-text paper download here