Chapter 11 of the South African constitution states that the institution, status and roles of traditional leadership, according to customary law, are recognised. To this end, numerous pieces of legislation have been passed and various programmes implemented to ensure that traditional leadership makes an important contribution to the development of society. Traditional leaders of all ranks, i.e. kings, Iinkosi, Dikgosi, headmen & women, also play an advisory role to government regarding the lives of the country's traditional rural populations. However - there are still some people who think the institutions of Kings and Monarchies are old-fashioned, and cannot work in a democracy today. This has prompted us to discuss whether there is place for traditional leadership in a democracy. Sakina Kamwendo speaks to Dan Whitehead our correspondent in London, Kgosi Sipho Mahlangu Deputy Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders and UCT Centre for Law and Society researcher Nolundi Luwaya.