Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, who recently returned to active traditional leadership politics, is on a mission to revive the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa).
The national executive committee of Contralesa expelled Nonkonyana as a member and general-secretary in October 2009 after he took the organisation to court.
The court battle came after a new provincial leadership replaced Nonkonyana.
Parallel to the new provincial leadership, led by Chief Ngubo Mgcotyelwa, Nonkonyana elected his own interim provincial leadership and took the organisation to court to have the conference that elected the new leadership nullified.
But after five years in the cold, Contralesa provincial general council reinstated Nonkonyana last November after he apologised.
He was later co-opted to the provincial structure and appointed as an acting provincial secretary.
“I apologised to all those I offended and forgiven all those offended me and we were reconciled,” said Nonkonyana.
He said that the term of the current leadership ended in 2013 and new leadership needed to be elected. “Four people, including myself, were co-opted to the PEC and I was later elected as a acting provincial secretary.”
He said among his responsibilities was to revitalise Contralesa branches. “We have to work towards relaunching all the 52 branches, building membership which will culminate in the provincial conference that will tentatively be held on April 24 to 25,” he said.
Nonkonyana was Contralesa’s provincial chairman between 1991 to 2008.
He was also founding chairman of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders from 1996 to 1999 when he became an ANC MP.
“I decided not to be in the forefront of politics but instead dedicate the remaining years of my life to traditional leadership and ensure that it was holding the necessary centre-stage on governance.
“Not only do the traditional leaders in the province need me, but also my people of AmaBhala and the traditional council need me the most,” said Nonkonyana.
Contralesa provincial chairman Chief Nkosinathi Jezile confirmed the return of Nonkonyana to traditional leadership politics.
“He was expelled as Contralesa member, but in November the provincial general council reinstated him and co-opted him to the PEC,” said Jezile.
He said that Contralesa deputy provincial secretary Chief Sizakele Ngwekazi was not overlooked, but declined to be made a secretary.
Jezile also said there were traditional leaders, some among the PEC, who were not happy about Nonkonyana’s reinstatement.
“Those were not in the meeting that took the decision and demanding that things be changed. But I will call an urgent meeting to address the matter with all those concerned,” said Jezile. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Nonkonyana goes back to his roots
The national executive committee of Contralesa expelled Nonkonyana as a member and general-secretary in October 2009 after he took the organisation to court.
The court battle came after a new provincial leadership replaced Nonkonyana.
Parallel to the new provincial leadership, led by Chief Ngubo Mgcotyelwa, Nonkonyana elected his own interim provincial leadership and took the organisation to court to have the conference that elected the new leadership nullified.
But after five years in the cold, Contralesa provincial general council reinstated Nonkonyana last November after he apologised.
He was later co-opted to the provincial structure and appointed as an acting provincial secretary.
“I apologised to all those I offended and forgiven all those offended me and we were reconciled,” said Nonkonyana.
He said that the term of the current leadership ended in 2013 and new leadership needed to be elected. “Four people, including myself, were co-opted to the PEC and I was later elected as a acting provincial secretary.”
He said among his responsibilities was to revitalise Contralesa branches. “We have to work towards relaunching all the 52 branches, building membership which will culminate in the provincial conference that will tentatively be held on April 24 to 25,” he said.
Nonkonyana was Contralesa’s provincial chairman between 1991 to 2008.
He was also founding chairman of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders from 1996 to 1999 when he became an ANC MP.
“I decided not to be in the forefront of politics but instead dedicate the remaining years of my life to traditional leadership and ensure that it was holding the necessary centre-stage on governance.
“Not only do the traditional leaders in the province need me, but also my people of AmaBhala and the traditional council need me the most,” said Nonkonyana.
Contralesa provincial chairman Chief Nkosinathi Jezile confirmed the return of Nonkonyana to traditional leadership politics.
“He was expelled as Contralesa member, but in November the provincial general council reinstated him and co-opted him to the PEC,” said Jezile.
He said that Contralesa deputy provincial secretary Chief Sizakele Ngwekazi was not overlooked, but declined to be made a secretary.
Jezile also said there were traditional leaders, some among the PEC, who were not happy about Nonkonyana’s reinstatement.
“Those were not in the meeting that took the decision and demanding that things be changed. But I will call an urgent meeting to address the matter with all those concerned,” said Jezile. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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