Traditional leadership made a pitch for a place on the agenda of the convention movement on Saturday night with a broadside against abortion, same sex marriages and adultery.

Zilimbola Mpahlana, representative of the Eastern Cape's Thembu King Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo was one of two traditional leaders given the opportunity to address the meeting.

Speaking on behalf of the king, who is also his brother, he said traditional leadership was a product of "societal evolution based on approved social norms and values".

God-ordained

"In short, it is a God-ordained institution," he said.

"Despite our vision, the institution of traditional leadership has always been under fire in all governments for almost centuries even the present government is no exception.

"As long as traditional leaders do not have political powers they will continue to be victims of circumstances together with their communities."

He said budgets for community development programmes should be placed with traditional councils.

"To conclude, despite our submissions and deliberations against the moral decay of our society, our government continued to pass legislations which are totally against our norms and values to mention but a few: abortion, prostitution, same sex marriages, adultery, which is said recently to be no crime in our country.

Country in crisis

"We cannot afford to fold our arms and be spectators when our country is in crisis."

Earlier, introducing Mpahlana, convention convener Terror Lekota said representatives of the movement had paid a visit to Dalindyebo at his Mthatha great place.

The other traditional leader to address the convention was a representative of Pondo King Mpondombini Sigcawu, who said that since Lekota had not visited the king, Sigcawu did not know anything about the convention.

However the king invited convention representatives to visit him at Qawukeni.

Sapa