Sequel to Long Walk to Freedom - Revision 4 - Chapter 10 Page 18

and Local Government, briefed me on the position of traditional leaders, especially after I had stepped down as President of the country in June 1999. He reminded me that when we came into power in 1994, we needed to find a place for traditional leaders in our new system of government. To that end, we created six Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders, as well as the National House of Traditional Leaders, so that they could play a meaningful role on matters under their jurisdiction. The creation of these Houses was in accordance with the policy of the ANC which had at its inception, as we have already said, an Upper House for traditional leaders. This measure was taken not only to acknowledge the role which traditional leaders had played in the wars of resistance, but also because it was an important step in our campaign to bury the curse of tribalism. An Inter-Departmental Task Team was set up to recommend to the Government