Double standard for Mandla

This week saw condemnation hurled at iNkosi Zwelivelile Mandlenkosi Mandela of the Mvezo traditional council, the grandson of former president Nelson Mandela and great grandson of Nkosi Gadla Mphakanyiswa, son of Mandela of AbaThembu King Ngubengcuka.

This flurry of strongly worded condemnation ensued from the news that the chief has converted to Islam, thereby abandoning his own faith and the assumption that he had, as a result, abandoned his people.

So what now is the issue with Islam?

With one of the biggest radio stations in our country, Umhlobo Wenene, having so much programming dedicated to Christianity that it is now a vehicle to further entrench this belief, are we becoming intolerant of Islam?

Yet the Islamic leader, Sheik Nceba Salamtu, the president of the Muslim Council of South Africa, points to tolerance when he says: “Mandla and his wife are fortunate that they are of the same religion, but different cultures. They can negotiate their cultures. But Mandla needs a wise man who can strictly advise him on the do’s and don’ts.”

An attitude of tolerance, not one of hypocrisy is surely what is needed towards Mandela’s grandson.

We must at all times not lose sight of the tools of analysis when we seek answers in such circumstances, looking into the connotations of a traditional leader’s conversion to another faith or religion.

We must be contextual, factual and provide only a narrative that is designed to inform, rather than one that seeks to advance shortsighted views that cannot stand the test of scrutiny.

Jongisilo Pokwana ka Menziwa is a member of the Pokwana Traditional Council, the director of Vusizwe Foundation for Oral Historical Research and a regional chair of Contrasela