A retired police colonel who challenged Chief Phathekile Dilizintaba Holomisa for chieftainship of the AmaHegebe tribe in Mqanduli, has lost his fight.
Sindezama Mdunyelwa lodged a dispute with the Mdende Commission to oust his cousin Holomisa, who had been overall head and senior traditional leader of the tribe since 1998.
Mdunyelwa, who holds no traditional leadership position, had filed a claim for his recognition as senior traditional leader of Zangci and AmaHegebe traditional areas in Mqanduli.
He told the commission in August that he – and not Holomisa – was the legitimate head of the tribe and royal family.
Holomisa leads six administrative areas encompassing 35 villages in Mqanduli.
The two cousins are both great-grandsons of Holomisa, the son of Mdunyelwa. The dispute centred on the seniority of the wives, especially their two great-grandmothers – Novili and Nonqoma.
Mdunyelwa’s great-grandmother Novile of AmaQiya royal clan was the first woman to be married, but not the senior wife.
Holomisa said his great-grandmother, Nonqoma, a princess of the Tshawe royal clan although the fifth of the 11 women to be married, became the senior wife in terms of customary practices of AmaHegebe and AbaThembu.
Announcing the decision on the traditional leadership disputes at the Mthatha Town Hall this week, Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle dismissed seven claims – including that of Mdunyelwa.
It found that Holomisa was the legitimate leader of the tribe.
“The record indicates that the claim does not find support in the well-established royal lineage of AmaHegebe. The committee’s recommendation that the claim should be dismissed is supported,” said Masualle.
Speaking to the Saturday Dispatch, Holomisa said the royal family felt humiliated and embarrassed that one of its own had been embroiled in controversy over the leadership of the tribe.
“Our genealogy as AmaHegebe is very clear. We have never been involved in fights. He has brought the family name and that of our nation into disrepute and humiliated us. I hope he will come and apologise to us, the elders, to avoid the wrath of the ancestors,” said Holomisa.
Mdunyelwa said he would seek legal opinion “to see what route to follow”.
Ex-cop loses bid to oust chief Phathekile Holomisa
Sindezama Mdunyelwa lodged a dispute with the Mdende Commission to oust his cousin Holomisa, who had been overall head and senior traditional leader of the tribe since 1998.
Mdunyelwa, who holds no traditional leadership position, had filed a claim for his recognition as senior traditional leader of Zangci and AmaHegebe traditional areas in Mqanduli.
He told the commission in August that he – and not Holomisa – was the legitimate head of the tribe and royal family.
Holomisa leads six administrative areas encompassing 35 villages in Mqanduli.
The two cousins are both great-grandsons of Holomisa, the son of Mdunyelwa. The dispute centred on the seniority of the wives, especially their two great-grandmothers – Novili and Nonqoma.
Mdunyelwa’s great-grandmother Novile of AmaQiya royal clan was the first woman to be married, but not the senior wife.
Holomisa said his great-grandmother, Nonqoma, a princess of the Tshawe royal clan although the fifth of the 11 women to be married, became the senior wife in terms of customary practices of AmaHegebe and AbaThembu.
Announcing the decision on the traditional leadership disputes at the Mthatha Town Hall this week, Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle dismissed seven claims – including that of Mdunyelwa.
It found that Holomisa was the legitimate leader of the tribe.
“The record indicates that the claim does not find support in the well-established royal lineage of AmaHegebe. The committee’s recommendation that the claim should be dismissed is supported,” said Masualle.
Speaking to the Saturday Dispatch, Holomisa said the royal family felt humiliated and embarrassed that one of its own had been embroiled in controversy over the leadership of the tribe.
“Our genealogy as AmaHegebe is very clear. We have never been involved in fights. He has brought the family name and that of our nation into disrepute and humiliated us. I hope he will come and apologise to us, the elders, to avoid the wrath of the ancestors,” said Holomisa.
Mdunyelwa said he would seek legal opinion “to see what route to follow”.
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