Integrating Traditional Authority Participation into Land Use Planning: Implications for Sustainable Rural Housing Delivery

Efforts to advance sustainable rural development in South Africa depend significantly on municipalities’ ability to coordinate land use planning within contexts where customary land governance remains dominant. Traditional authorities continue to influence land allocation, settlement formation, and community decision-making; however, their participation within statutory planning frameworks remains inconsistently institutionalised and procedurally ambiguous. This study examines how traditional authority participation can be more effectively integrated into municipal land use planning to enhance sustainable rural housing delivery. A systematic review guided by PRISMA 2020 was conducted across Scopus and Web of Science and complemented by policy document analysis of Integrated Development Plans, Spatial Development Frameworks, Land Use Management Schemes, and relevant legislation. Findings reveal persistent governance misalignments characterised by parallel land allocation systems, institutional ambiguity, limited technical capacity, and weakly structured participatory mechanisms. The paper proposes an operational integration framework grounded in institutionalised participation platforms, co-produced land use guidelines, reciprocal capacity-building, and integrated monitoring mechanisms. The study contributes actionable guidance for municipalities seeking to reconcile dual land administration systems and strengthen inclusive rural housing delivery.