PREMIER Noxolo Kiviet yesterday pronounced on 10 traditional leadership disputes, dismissing six, upholding three and referring one for further deliberations.
Yesterday’s announcements comes a week after Kiviet pronounced on 21 other traditional disputes that pitted blood relatives against one another for authority in their respective areas.
The pronouncements came after a traditional leadership disputes commission led by Dr Nokuzola Mndende was set up to investigate the authenticity of traditional leaders in disputed areas.
Disputes pronounced on yesterday include that of Tyefu, Keiskammahoek North, Amahlathi and Whittlesea’s AbaThembu traditional councils, Alice’s Zulu and AmaGwali traditional councils and Ntabethemba’s Basotho traditional council.
Some include a disputes over land ownership, a son who was refused chieftainship after his father died and a case which has received much media attention – that of the Kama royal family of AmaGqunukhwebe tribe near Middledrift.
The AmaGqunukhwebe’s regent and acting chieftainess Nokwandisa Kama was at loggerheads with some of her late husband Chief Zwelimjongile’s family members who had accused her of being a commoner.
Family members, including Zwelimjongile’s younger brother and sisters, claimed her eldest son Luvuyo was not eligible to succeed his father as a local chief because he was born from a union with a commoner.
The 10-year-old dispute has divided the tribe, with some siding with Zwelimjongile’s widow while others believed she should be removed and power given to her late husband’s younger brother Prince Mkhululi Kama.
So heated was the issue that some family members even boycotted the chief’s funeral in 2004.
The family later appointed Mkhululi as a chief and the matter was taken to Bhisho High Court, which ruled Nokwandisa’s son Luvuyo was the rightful heir and that her being a regent for her son was justified.
The appointment was certified by the provincial government but a dispute was later lodged by disgruntled family members.
At the time, Nokwandisa claimed her in-laws did not want her to reign because she was a woman and they feared she would remarry.
She said she would only hand over to her son and no one else.
During yesterday’s sitting and after recommendations from Mndende commission, Kiviet paved the way for Luvuyo to one day assume leadership.
“There is nothing preventing Luvuyo from succeeding his late father as allegations that he was born of a commoner mother do not hold water,” states the commission’s report.
Mkhululi yesterday refused to comment, saying the family was yet to decide on the way forward.
Kiviet said the commission’s aim was not to sow divisions and create war amongst royal blood relatives but to assist in resolving disputes before they ended in court. — asandan@dispstch.co.za
Kiviet rejects six traditional leadership claims
Yesterday’s announcements comes a week after Kiviet pronounced on 21 other traditional disputes that pitted blood relatives against one another for authority in their respective areas.
The pronouncements came after a traditional leadership disputes commission led by Dr Nokuzola Mndende was set up to investigate the authenticity of traditional leaders in disputed areas.
Disputes pronounced on yesterday include that of Tyefu, Keiskammahoek North, Amahlathi and Whittlesea’s AbaThembu traditional councils, Alice’s Zulu and AmaGwali traditional councils and Ntabethemba’s Basotho traditional council.
Some include a disputes over land ownership, a son who was refused chieftainship after his father died and a case which has received much media attention – that of the Kama royal family of AmaGqunukhwebe tribe near Middledrift.
The AmaGqunukhwebe’s regent and acting chieftainess Nokwandisa Kama was at loggerheads with some of her late husband Chief Zwelimjongile’s family members who had accused her of being a commoner.
Family members, including Zwelimjongile’s younger brother and sisters, claimed her eldest son Luvuyo was not eligible to succeed his father as a local chief because he was born from a union with a commoner.
The 10-year-old dispute has divided the tribe, with some siding with Zwelimjongile’s widow while others believed she should be removed and power given to her late husband’s younger brother Prince Mkhululi Kama.
So heated was the issue that some family members even boycotted the chief’s funeral in 2004.
The family later appointed Mkhululi as a chief and the matter was taken to Bhisho High Court, which ruled Nokwandisa’s son Luvuyo was the rightful heir and that her being a regent for her son was justified.
The appointment was certified by the provincial government but a dispute was later lodged by disgruntled family members.
At the time, Nokwandisa claimed her in-laws did not want her to reign because she was a woman and they feared she would remarry.
She said she would only hand over to her son and no one else.
During yesterday’s sitting and after recommendations from Mndende commission, Kiviet paved the way for Luvuyo to one day assume leadership.
“There is nothing preventing Luvuyo from succeeding his late father as allegations that he was born of a commoner mother do not hold water,” states the commission’s report.
Mkhululi yesterday refused to comment, saying the family was yet to decide on the way forward.
Kiviet said the commission’s aim was not to sow divisions and create war amongst royal blood relatives but to assist in resolving disputes before they ended in court. — asandan@dispstch.co.za
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