By LULAMILE FENI and MALIBONGWE DAYIMANI
No foul play is suspected in the shooting to death on Thursday night of Chief Daludumo Lindikhaya Mtirara, spokesman for the Ngangelizwe royal family.
The shocking news of the tragedy came as Thembus were celebrating the enrobing of their acting king, Azenathi Zanelizwe Dalindyebo.
The death of Mtirara, who was also a general in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was confirmed by family members and his royal advisor, Advocate Matthew Mpahlwa yesterday.
Mtirara is suspected to have shot himself at his Pretoria home.
Daludomo is one of the AmaDlomo elders who believed that King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo’s younger brother, Prince Mankunku Mthandeni Dalindyebo, was the most suitable person to be the acting king of AbaThembu.
There was jubilation yesterday when Dalindyebo’s son, also Daludumo Mtirara’s clan grandson, Prince Azenathi Zanelizwe Dalindyebo, was enrobed as acting king with a leopard skin at the Bumbane Great Place.
Advocate Mpahlwa said Daludumo Mtirara’s death was not linked to his recent urgent court application to interdict the coronation.
“Details or further particulars about the death of Chief Daludumo Mtirara will be furnished in due course by the Mtirara royal family, should the need arise,” he said.
Mpahlwa said Daludumo Mtirara had asked to meet him urgently after the court matter “to advise him on key issues in an attempt to stabilise the kingdom of abaThembu”.
General Mtirara’s nephew and family spokesman, Chief Mfundo Bhovulengwe Mtirara, said “At this stage the details leading to his death remain very sketchy but the family does not suspect any foul play.”
Chief Mfundo Mtirara said that despite the infighting and deep-rooted divisions in the royal family of AbaThembu, it was a time for all factions to unite in mourning.
Daludomo Mtirara’s brother, Chief Thanduxolo Mtirara, who is chairman of the Ngangelizwe royal family, said of the death of his brother: “We are devastated about this. We are shocked.”
Asked for official comment, SANDF national spokesman Siphiwo Dlamini said: “You will have to speak to his family.”
Celebrations at the enrobing only went ahead after family and others present held a short prayer meeting for Daludomo.
Programme director Chief Zwelodumo Mtirara said Azenathi was enrobed with leopard skin because he was acting in place of his father who was not being dethroned, which was why he could not be enrobed with the royal lion skin.
Daludumo and his brother Thanduxolo supported Mankunku in his bid to become acting king, while their middle brother, Chief Thandisizwe Mtirara, supported Azenathi.
Daludumo had been a driving force in the campaign to enthrone Mankunku and issued media statements on behalf of the Ngangelizwe royal family.
But since the outcome of the Grahamstown High Court, where Mankunku withdrew his urgent application to block the coronation, Daludumo never issued a statement, which was unlike him. He was very upset when spoken to afterwards, and referred queries to his brother, Thanduxolo.
Dalindyebo’s youngest brother, Prince Siganeko Dalindyebo, and AmaDlomo elder Chief Dumisani Zanenqaba Mgudlwa, said Daludumo’s death was a shock.
“We mourn together as family that one of us has departed. This is indeed shocking,” said Mgudlwa. — lulamf@dispatch.co.za / malibongwed@dispatch.co.za