Royal family’s public mudslinging ‘divides AbaThembu nation’

An Amadlomo elder called for an end to public mudslinging in the royal family at the weekend.

Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders chairman Chief Ngangomhlaba Matan-zima said washing dirty linen in public was destroying the family’s unity, cohesion, trust and peace, as well as dragging the family name through the mud and dividing the AbaThembu nation.

He was speaking as a family elder at the funeral of Nozolile Mtirara, the wife of Chief Justice Mtirara, who was the cousin of both Nelson Mandela and the former Transkei president KD Matanzima, at Mqhekezweni Great Place on Saturday.

Mandela grew up in Mqhekezweni under the guardianship of AbaThembu king regent Chief Jongintaba Mtirara, who was Justice's father.

Mtiraras, Matanzimas, Mandelas, Dalindyebos, Mnqanqenis and Joyis are close relatives of the ruling AmaDlomo royal clan.

All but one of the families have been at high-profile loggerheads in recent years.

“It’s heartbreaking when family members are on national TV washing their dirty linen in public and dragging the name of their family through the mud.

“Every family has misunderstandings and fights over things, but they needn’t use the media as a platform to resolve them. This is embarrassing and tarnishing our family name.

“We can solve our problems within the existing internal family structures. Why do we have to run to the media?” an emotional but in-control Matanzima asked.

Examples of royal feuds that have hit the headlines include:

Dalindyebo royal family (AmaDlomo) have been divided over King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo’ suitability to rule for years, and now over the appointment of his successor;

Dalindyebo's siblings and the Mtirara family are also caught up in one or other of the factions over the successor to the throne;

The Joyi family Mputhi had a public spat in the media over chieftainship in the area;

Nelson Mandela’s children and grandchildren were involved in several public spats, attacking and responding across media platforms;

The Matanzima family was embroiled in a disagreement over a successor to the late King Lwandile Matanzima; and

The Matanzimas and Dalindyebos clashed in public over sovereignty as they each rule half of the AbaThembu kingdom.

Only the Mnqanqeni family has not involved the media in their affairs, but their members are directly involved in the battles of AmaDlomo.

“As a royal family, we cannot accept that our issues be solved in the media,” Matanzima said.

“One of us can make a mistake but that does not mean the rest of us must address this in the media. He or she is still one of us. None of us is a saint, we all make mistakes.”

It is the first time that Matanzima, who has been working behind the scenes promoting unity and peace among AmaDlomo, has publicly lambasted AmaDlomo’s royal family over their public outbursts.

Cogta MEC Fikile Xasa, agriculture MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane, MPLs, Contralesa provincial chairman Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, OR Tambo mayor Nomakhosazana Meth and KSD mayor Nonkoliso Ngqongwa attended the funeral.

AbaThembu throne contender Prince Azenathi Dalindyebo, who is Buyelekhaya’s son, was in the front row of the mourners flanked by senior members of the Ama-Dlomo clan, including Matanzima, Thandisizwe Mtirara Daludumo Mtirara, Ntande Mtirara, and Mfundo Mtirara.