KING Justice Mpondombini Sigcau, 71, of Eastern Pondo land, has died.
Sigcau, who became king in December 1978 following the death of his father King Botha Sigcau, died at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha on Mon day.
He was admitted at the hospital last Tuesday after suffering a stroke.
“This is devastating both to the family and the nation.
“We had hoped he would survive the stroke as he was showing signs of recovery and gaining strength,” his spokesman Mandilive Cinani said yesterday.
He said Sigcau, also known by his praise name Thandizulu, died at about 10am.
He is the fourth reigning king in the Eastern Cape to die since 2005.
AmaGcaleka King Xolilizwe Sigcawu (subs corr) died on December 31 2005, Western Thembuland King Lwandile Zwelenkosi Matanzima died on May 22 2010 and Sigcawu’s cousin AmaRharhabe King Maxhob’ayakhawuleza Zanesizwe Sandile died on July 11 2011.
Sigcau’s health deteriorated after his royal status was challenged in 2005 by his nephew King Zanozuko Tyelovuyo Sigcau's before the Nhlapo Commission which investigated the authenticity of kings in the country.
A row over the sovereignty of the AmaMpondo started after King Mandlonke died childless in 1937, resulting in a nasty succession dispute.
In July 2010 President Jacob Zuma said the Nhlapo Commission had determined that Sigcau was not a legitimate king and declared King Zanozuko Tyelovuyo Sigcau the rightful king of the AmaMpondo as a whole.
Thandizulu was the only king in the Eastern Cape to be stripped of his kingship by the commission. He challenged his demotion and the appointment of Zanozuko into court.
“His majesty died at a crucial time in the history of AmaMpondo when everyone was anxiously waiting for a ruling by the Constitutional Court, which heard the matter this monthThe kingship claim had impacted negatively on his heath which deteriorating as years went,” said Cinani.
The row between the two descendants of King Faku and both of the Faku royal clan divided AmaMpondo and threatened the stability of the nation.
“But he was a peace-loving person and bore no grudges,” said Cinani.
In April 2010 Sigcau developed complications with diabetes and was admitted at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital but later transferred to One Military Hospital in Pretoria where his legs were amputated. He stayed there for almost two years and was discharged towards the end of 2012.
Due to his due to ill-health, Sigcau, who was now on prosthetic legs and using wheelchair, stayed in Pretoria to be closer close to the One Military Hospital where he was some sessions.
On Friday he visited his Qawukeni Great Place in Lusikisiki to attend the funeral of a family member.
Local government and traditional affairs MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane said the news had come as a shock.
“We were hoping that he would make a speedy recovery.We send our condolences to his family, his loved ones and the Mpondo nation as a whole,” he said.
“We appeal to the Mpondo people to mourn him in unity. He spent his entire life working for his people, building traditional institutions and keeping this heritage with dignity,” said Qoboshiyane.
Sigcau was against the mining of the Wild Coast saying it was absurd and destroy endangered species for the short-term commercial profit of greedy foreigner.
He is survived by his wife, Queen Lombekiso Ma Sobhuza Sigcau and two ad ult daughters, Princess Wez izwe and Princess Bekiwe, and a grandson, Prince Juba Zulu. —
Mpondo king dies after stroke
Sigcau, who became king in December 1978 following the death of his father King Botha Sigcau, died at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha on Mon day.
He was admitted at the hospital last Tuesday after suffering a stroke.
“This is devastating both to the family and the nation.
“We had hoped he would survive the stroke as he was showing signs of recovery and gaining strength,” his spokesman Mandilive Cinani said yesterday.
He said Sigcau, also known by his praise name Thandizulu, died at about 10am.
He is the fourth reigning king in the Eastern Cape to die since 2005.
AmaGcaleka King Xolilizwe Sigcawu (subs corr) died on December 31 2005, Western Thembuland King Lwandile Zwelenkosi Matanzima died on May 22 2010 and Sigcawu’s cousin AmaRharhabe King Maxhob’ayakhawuleza Zanesizwe Sandile died on July 11 2011.
Sigcau’s health deteriorated after his royal status was challenged in 2005 by his nephew King Zanozuko Tyelovuyo Sigcau's before the Nhlapo Commission which investigated the authenticity of kings in the country.
A row over the sovereignty of the AmaMpondo started after King Mandlonke died childless in 1937, resulting in a nasty succession dispute.
In July 2010 President Jacob Zuma said the Nhlapo Commission had determined that Sigcau was not a legitimate king and declared King Zanozuko Tyelovuyo Sigcau the rightful king of the AmaMpondo as a whole.
Thandizulu was the only king in the Eastern Cape to be stripped of his kingship by the commission. He challenged his demotion and the appointment of Zanozuko into court.
“His majesty died at a crucial time in the history of AmaMpondo when everyone was anxiously waiting for a ruling by the Constitutional Court, which heard the matter this monthThe kingship claim had impacted negatively on his heath which deteriorating as years went,” said Cinani.
The row between the two descendants of King Faku and both of the Faku royal clan divided AmaMpondo and threatened the stability of the nation.
“But he was a peace-loving person and bore no grudges,” said Cinani.
In April 2010 Sigcau developed complications with diabetes and was admitted at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital but later transferred to One Military Hospital in Pretoria where his legs were amputated. He stayed there for almost two years and was discharged towards the end of 2012.
Due to his due to ill-health, Sigcau, who was now on prosthetic legs and using wheelchair, stayed in Pretoria to be closer close to the One Military Hospital where he was some sessions.
On Friday he visited his Qawukeni Great Place in Lusikisiki to attend the funeral of a family member.
Local government and traditional affairs MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane said the news had come as a shock.
“We were hoping that he would make a speedy recovery.We send our condolences to his family, his loved ones and the Mpondo nation as a whole,” he said.
“We appeal to the Mpondo people to mourn him in unity. He spent his entire life working for his people, building traditional institutions and keeping this heritage with dignity,” said Qoboshiyane.
Sigcau was against the mining of the Wild Coast saying it was absurd and destroy endangered species for the short-term commercial profit of greedy foreigner.
He is survived by his wife, Queen Lombekiso Ma Sobhuza Sigcau and two ad ult daughters, Princess Wez izwe and Princess Bekiwe, and a grandson, Prince Juba Zulu. —
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