A weteran senior traditional leader in the Tshawe dynasty, Chief Dumalisile Swelindawo, is to be buried at KuNtsemekana Great Place in Peddie tomorrow.Swelindawo, the head of the AmaMbalu traditional community, is the third chief from the AmaRharhabe Kingdom and Tshawe royal clan to die in the last five months.
The 88-year-old was related to both the great and right-hand houses of the AmaXhosa – the Sigcawus and the Sandiles – and served the traditional community of 10 villages of the AmaMbalu lying to the east of Peddie for 30 years.
The son of Chief Walaza and a direct descendent of Chief Langa (son of AmaXhosa King Phalo), Swelindawo was a revered traditional leader who fought tirelessly to ensure the AmaMbalu community was restored to the AmaRharhabe Kingdom.
The tribe moved from Peddie to Centane in the early 1900s where they fell under King Sigcawu.
His nephew, Chief Phakamisa Swelindawo, said it was thanks to his uncle’s efforts – and assistance from the late King Maxhoba Sandile – that the tribe was reunited with the AmaRharhabe kingdom in the 1980s.
Swelindawo became the head of AmaMbalu Traditional Council in 1985 following the death of his uncle, Chief Phendu Swelindawo, who died without having a son.
Due to customary law, only males were allowed to succeed.
Swelindawo has been applauded for his commitment to traditional leadership and for making sacrifices to ensure it continued to develop.
“He fought hard for the survival of AmaMbalu and the tribe is strong today in Peddie because of his efforts,” said Phakamisa.
Phakamisa described his uncle as “a disciplinarian, but humble, a straight talker, a man of action, an oral historian of note, a family man who was also passionate with the institution of traditional leaders”.
“In his 30 years of reign he made notable achievements as the senior traditional ruler of the AmaMbalu nation. He was a uniting factor in the family, a man who loved his people and always respected the greater Tshawe and Xhosa royalty.”
Swelindawo suffered tragedy in his latter years, losing his wife in 2007, followed by his son in 2008.
AmaRharhabe Kingdom royal spokesman Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe said it was “saddening to lose an elderly leader”. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Senior Tshawe leader to be buried in Peddie
Swelindawo, the head of the AmaMbalu traditional community, is the third chief from the AmaRharhabe Kingdom and Tshawe royal clan to die in the last five months.
The 88-year-old was related to both the great and right-hand houses of the AmaXhosa – the Sigcawus and the Sandiles – and served the traditional community of 10 villages of the AmaMbalu lying to the east of Peddie for 30 years.
The son of Chief Walaza and a direct descendent of Chief Langa (son of AmaXhosa King Phalo), Swelindawo was a revered traditional leader who fought tirelessly to ensure the AmaMbalu community was restored to the AmaRharhabe Kingdom.
The tribe moved from Peddie to Centane in the early 1900s where they fell under King Sigcawu.
His nephew, Chief Phakamisa Swelindawo, said it was thanks to his uncle’s efforts – and assistance from the late King Maxhoba Sandile – that the tribe was reunited with the AmaRharhabe kingdom in the 1980s.
Swelindawo became the head of AmaMbalu Traditional Council in 1985 following the death of his uncle, Chief Phendu Swelindawo, who died without having a son.
Due to customary law, only males were allowed to succeed.
Swelindawo has been applauded for his commitment to traditional leadership and for making sacrifices to ensure it continued to develop.
“He fought hard for the survival of AmaMbalu and the tribe is strong today in Peddie because of his efforts,” said Phakamisa.
Phakamisa described his uncle as “a disciplinarian, but humble, a straight talker, a man of action, an oral historian of note, a family man who was also passionate with the institution of traditional leaders”.
“In his 30 years of reign he made notable achievements as the senior traditional ruler of the AmaMbalu nation. He was a uniting factor in the family, a man who loved his people and always respected the greater Tshawe and Xhosa royalty.”
Swelindawo suffered tragedy in his latter years, losing his wife in 2007, followed by his son in 2008.
AmaRharhabe Kingdom royal spokesman Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe said it was “saddening to lose an elderly leader”. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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