Lekgotla and Idiomatic Expressions in Traditional Dispute Resolution: The Case of Makapanstad, North West Province, South Africa

Abstract The importance of traditional dispute resolution is embedded in the culture of a people. Idiomatic expressions seek to harmonise the process of lekgotla and to heal the families involved in disputes. As a cultural system and a process that is different from the Western courts, lekgotla relies heavily on the use of idiomatic expressions as important guidelines and tenets that are utilised to unravel the complexities and challenges presented by participants in the lekgotla processes. Lekgotla is an African system of dispute resolution in its own right; however, it is subsumed in the South African national legal system, which is colonial in letter and spirit. This article aims to discuss the interrelations between lekgotla and idiomatic expressions in traditional dispute resolution as used by the Bakgatla Ba Mosetlha traditional council in Makapanstad village, North West province, South Africa. The interrelations between lekgotla and idiomatic expressions constitute a complex process with the aim of bringing families together to negotiate, confess, forgive, compensate, heal, and engage in a ceremony that restores harmony in the community. Culture is at the core of this interaction between lekgotla and idiomatic expressions, with the goal of enhancing traditional dispute resolution. Fifteen key village leaders (traditional council members) in the community of Makapanstad were the primary sources for this study. The key idiomatic expressions shared in this article, and as utilised by these village leaders, focus on maintaining the human relationships in the community.