THE family of AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo has managed to convince him to attend the funeral of former state president Nelson Mandela.
The breakthrough comes after numerous family meetings were held to persuade Dalindyebo to put aside his loathing of president Jacob Zuma and Mandela’s grandson Mandla.
This week it emerged he was reluctant to share a stage with both men.
Also earlier in the week, Dalindyebo's spokesman Mfundo Mtirara said the king would only attend the funeral if his ancestors told him to.
On Wednesday night family members convened a meeting to change the king’s mind.
There was no outcome so another gathering took place the following day, attended by minister of rural development and land reform Gugile Nkwinti and his public and administration counterpart Lindiwe Sisulu.
Dalindyebo refused to meet either of them. It then fell to Dalindyebo’s sisters to convince him to go, two sources close to the king said.
Their efforts paid off and yesterday the king sent some of his chiefs to deliver an ox to the Mandela family in Qunu.
According to tradition, a head of the family is given a traditional send-off by slaughtering an ox in his name and the elder of that family speaks over the cow to the deceased’s spirit, telling him they are sending him off with the ox.
The king’s spokesman Chief Mfundo Mtirara said Dalindyebo would take part in the procession today.
“He will be present to welcome (Madiba’s) body and to conduct the amaDlomo cultural ritual. He will also be present at the funeral,” said Mtirara.
When asked whether the king would deliver a speech at the funeral, Mtirara said: “The king is in a mourning mode and he cannot be expected to speak at the funeral.”
Family spokesman General Themba Matanzima said Madiba’s body would leave Johannesburg at 9am and will arrive at the Mthatha airport at 11.30am with the family.
Madiba's wife Graça, ex-wife Winnie, grandson Mandla and other family members will accompany the coffin.
Dalindyebo will conduct the cultural ritual in Qunu to welcome Madiba's spirit to its final destination.
l Amaxhosa King Zwelonke Sigcawu yesterday expressed condolences to Mandela’s family. He praised the former statesman for his important role in unifying his nation and the AbaThembu.
Sigcawu, accompanied by senior members of his council and members of Contralesa’s national leadership including its newly-elected president Setlamorago Thobejane, visited Mandela’s family to pay his respects following the icon’s passing last week.
The monarch was reportedly met by Mandela’s daughters and grandchildren, the family’s spokesman General Temba Matanzima and Bantu Holomisa who was reportedly tasked with helping with preparations for Mandela’s funeral.
Addressing a media briefing at the Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu yesterday afternoon, Sigcawu who spoke in Xhosa throughout his address, said the elderly statesman had, like many elders in the Mandela family, helped foster strong relations between the two nations.
The Madiba clan belongs in the AbaThembu nation under controversial King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo.
“It was the first time I have been in contact with the family since Tata Mandela’s passing away,” he said.
“We would like to say condolences to the family for their loss. Mandela elders helped forge a strong relationship with the Sigcawus. The friendship has lasted for many years and it is continuing even now.
“We are here to say the pain they are feeling, we also feel it,” he added.
The king, however, stated it was his hope the country could produce another Mandela.
He also told a story on how he, his council’s chief executive Zolani Mkiva and his uncle Prince Xhanti Sigcawu had visited Libya just before the 2010 soccer World Cup. He said the Libyans were oblivious to the country “but the only thing they knew about our country was Tata Mandela”.
He said the elderly statesman had put the country on the global map.
Meanwhile, the king’s uncle who helped translate the address into English for the benefit of the foreign media contingent, said about 10 new schools had been built in their area of jurisdiction thanks to Mandela’s influence.
“Tata was a man of peace and respect and we would want for him to be buried in a peaceful way.” — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
King will attend funeral
The breakthrough comes after numerous family meetings were held to persuade Dalindyebo to put aside his loathing of president Jacob Zuma and Mandela’s grandson Mandla.
This week it emerged he was reluctant to share a stage with both men.
Also earlier in the week, Dalindyebo's spokesman Mfundo Mtirara said the king would only attend the funeral if his ancestors told him to.
On Wednesday night family members convened a meeting to change the king’s mind.
There was no outcome so another gathering took place the following day, attended by minister of rural development and land reform Gugile Nkwinti and his public and administration counterpart Lindiwe Sisulu.
Dalindyebo refused to meet either of them. It then fell to Dalindyebo’s sisters to convince him to go, two sources close to the king said.
Their efforts paid off and yesterday the king sent some of his chiefs to deliver an ox to the Mandela family in Qunu.
According to tradition, a head of the family is given a traditional send-off by slaughtering an ox in his name and the elder of that family speaks over the cow to the deceased’s spirit, telling him they are sending him off with the ox.
The king’s spokesman Chief Mfundo Mtirara said Dalindyebo would take part in the procession today.
“He will be present to welcome (Madiba’s) body and to conduct the amaDlomo cultural ritual. He will also be present at the funeral,” said Mtirara.
When asked whether the king would deliver a speech at the funeral, Mtirara said: “The king is in a mourning mode and he cannot be expected to speak at the funeral.”
Family spokesman General Themba Matanzima said Madiba’s body would leave Johannesburg at 9am and will arrive at the Mthatha airport at 11.30am with the family.
Madiba's wife Graça, ex-wife Winnie, grandson Mandla and other family members will accompany the coffin.
Dalindyebo will conduct the cultural ritual in Qunu to welcome Madiba's spirit to its final destination.
l Amaxhosa King Zwelonke Sigcawu yesterday expressed condolences to Mandela’s family. He praised the former statesman for his important role in unifying his nation and the AbaThembu.
Sigcawu, accompanied by senior members of his council and members of Contralesa’s national leadership including its newly-elected president Setlamorago Thobejane, visited Mandela’s family to pay his respects following the icon’s passing last week.
The monarch was reportedly met by Mandela’s daughters and grandchildren, the family’s spokesman General Temba Matanzima and Bantu Holomisa who was reportedly tasked with helping with preparations for Mandela’s funeral.
Addressing a media briefing at the Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu yesterday afternoon, Sigcawu who spoke in Xhosa throughout his address, said the elderly statesman had, like many elders in the Mandela family, helped foster strong relations between the two nations.
The Madiba clan belongs in the AbaThembu nation under controversial King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo.
“It was the first time I have been in contact with the family since Tata Mandela’s passing away,” he said.
“We would like to say condolences to the family for their loss. Mandela elders helped forge a strong relationship with the Sigcawus. The friendship has lasted for many years and it is continuing even now.
“We are here to say the pain they are feeling, we also feel it,” he added.
The king, however, stated it was his hope the country could produce another Mandela.
He also told a story on how he, his council’s chief executive Zolani Mkiva and his uncle Prince Xhanti Sigcawu had visited Libya just before the 2010 soccer World Cup. He said the Libyans were oblivious to the country “but the only thing they knew about our country was Tata Mandela”.
He said the elderly statesman had put the country on the global map.
Meanwhile, the king’s uncle who helped translate the address into English for the benefit of the foreign media contingent, said about 10 new schools had been built in their area of jurisdiction thanks to Mandela’s influence.
“Tata was a man of peace and respect and we would want for him to be buried in a peaceful way.” — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
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