A PROMINENT Transkei royal family has been shocked by controversial claims that their head is not the rightful chief of the Bhaziya administrative area near Mthatha.
The already divided Joyi family, close relatives of Nelson Mandela and King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, has been split further by recent claims at the Mndende Commission that Mkhuseli Joyi was not the rightful chief.
The commission, led by Dr Nokuzola Mndende, was set up by premier Noxolo Kiviet to investigate the authenticity of traditional leaders.
Part of the family alleges Mkhuseli’s late father, Marhelane Joyi, was an illegitimate child.
But others have rallied behind the chief, saying the claims are nonsense.
The Joyi family has enjoyed little stability since 1933 when Mgubhuli Joyi, father to Marhelane, died.
The family has been divided into two – those who support Mkhuseli and those who threw their weight behind his cousin Mbuzeli Joyi to replace him.
Mbuzeli is Zwelidumile’s son. Zwelidumile died in 2004.
Although Marhelane and Zwelidumile’s families are separated only by a village road they do not mingle. Members from opposite sides do not greet one another, do not attend family funerals together or conduct important family rituals together.
Mbuzeli and his sisters – Phathiswa Joyi, Bulelwa Joyi-Nkubungu, Tununu Joyi-Sangoni and Sandiswe Joyi – said their father Zwelidumile had been the legitimate chief and head of Joyi but that this status had been “shifted” to Marhelane.
During recent public hearings at the Mndende Commission they claimed Marhelane – who died in 2008 – had been born out of wedlock and therefore could not be heir to the Joyi chieftaincy.
This was strongly denied by Mkhuseli and his supporters.
“They are just lying,” said Mkhuseli. “This is worrying me a lot ... we are all in a war, something that should not be happening to people of the same family.”
But Mbuzeli hit back saying: “This was not a secret, was an illegitimate child, a son of a sangoma of Rhadebe clan. He is not a Joyi of Madiba clan.”
The Joyi family, together with the Mtiraras, Mnqanqenis and Matanzimas, are royals of AbaThembu. They are all part of the Madiba clan.
Although Mandla Mandela and Mfundo Mtirara had in 2011 promised to help the family to come up with a solution, they yesterday said they had not yet done so.
A chief in the Eastern Cape earns about R179000 a year and enjoys significant status in the community.
Sensational claims shock prominent royal family
The already divided Joyi family, close relatives of Nelson Mandela and King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, has been split further by recent claims at the Mndende Commission that Mkhuseli Joyi was not the rightful chief.
The commission, led by Dr Nokuzola Mndende, was set up by premier Noxolo Kiviet to investigate the authenticity of traditional leaders.
Part of the family alleges Mkhuseli’s late father, Marhelane Joyi, was an illegitimate child.
But others have rallied behind the chief, saying the claims are nonsense.
The Joyi family has enjoyed little stability since 1933 when Mgubhuli Joyi, father to Marhelane, died.
The family has been divided into two – those who support Mkhuseli and those who threw their weight behind his cousin Mbuzeli Joyi to replace him.
Mbuzeli is Zwelidumile’s son. Zwelidumile died in 2004.
Although Marhelane and Zwelidumile’s families are separated only by a village road they do not mingle. Members from opposite sides do not greet one another, do not attend family funerals together or conduct important family rituals together.
Mbuzeli and his sisters – Phathiswa Joyi, Bulelwa Joyi-Nkubungu, Tununu Joyi-Sangoni and Sandiswe Joyi – said their father Zwelidumile had been the legitimate chief and head of Joyi but that this status had been “shifted” to Marhelane.
During recent public hearings at the Mndende Commission they claimed Marhelane – who died in 2008 – had been born out of wedlock and therefore could not be heir to the Joyi chieftaincy.
This was strongly denied by Mkhuseli and his supporters.
“They are just lying,” said Mkhuseli. “This is worrying me a lot ... we are all in a war, something that should not be happening to people of the same family.”
But Mbuzeli hit back saying: “This was not a secret, was an illegitimate child, a son of a sangoma of Rhadebe clan. He is not a Joyi of Madiba clan.”
The Joyi family, together with the Mtiraras, Mnqanqenis and Matanzimas, are royals of AbaThembu. They are all part of the Madiba clan.
Although Mandla Mandela and Mfundo Mtirara had in 2011 promised to help the family to come up with a solution, they yesterday said they had not yet done so.
A chief in the Eastern Cape earns about R179000 a year and enjoys significant status in the community.
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