TRIBAL authorities have said that whether anyone likes it or not, Mandla Mandela is the correct head of the Mandela family.
“Whether we like Mandla or not, he is the only person we are looking to for the leadership of the Mandela family,” AbaThembu royal spokesman Mfundo Mtirara said yesterday.
He was speaking in response to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s statement on Wednesday that Mandela’s daughter Makaziwe Mandela was head of the Mandela family.
Madikizela-Mandela released the statement denying media reports of feuds amongst members of the Mandela family.
“Mrs Madikizela-Mandela would like to place it on record that there is no succession or dynasty debate in the Mandela Family,” the statement read. “In accordance with customary law and tradition, the eldest daughter, being Ms. Makaziwe Mandela, will head the family and will make decisions with the support of her two sisters.”
Madikizela-Mandela said Mandla was “respected as one of Nelson Mandela’s grandchildren, the next generation of the Mandela family”.
But Mtirara yesterday said culturally there was no way that Makaziwe could lead the family.
“Leadership goes from father to son. We respect Makaziwe as the eldest daughter.
“She is expected to guide and advise Mandla.
“Let bygones be bygones. Also, she is married,” Mtirara said.
Eastern Cape customary law expert Dr Nokuzolo Mndende said Madiba’s daughters could not have a meeting by themselves on a matters that affect the family. She said the children of Mandela’s dead children had to be involved.
“Although Makaziwe is the first born child of Madiba, she cannot take decisions with her sisters. Children of Thembekile – Ndileka in this case – must be involved and be part of the inner circle. This includes Makgatho’s sons, especially his eldest son from marriage,” said Mndende.
Makgatho, the father of Mandla, died in 2005.
Nkosi Xolile Ndevu, the general secretary of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) said Mandla remained the heir of the Mandela family.
“Mafungwashe does not lead any traditional ceremonies, there are men for that,” he said.
Mandla is the head of the Mandela chiefdom in Mvezo and has been the only grandson based in the Eastern Cape.
Neither Mandla, Makaziwe nor Madikizela-Mandela could be reached for comment yesterday.
But Mandla’s spokesman, Freddy Pilusa, said yesterday that the Mvezo chief had chosen to focus his energy on honouring his grandfather’s legacy and not by getting involved in debates.
But in an affidavit before the Mthatha High Court in July, Mandla said that as the eldest male descent, he was entitled – and expected – to make decisions on behalf of his family.
The affidavit formed part of the exhumation of graves case. — Additional reporting by Kathryn Kimberley and Xolisa Phillip
Mandla is Mandela head say traditional experts
“Whether we like Mandla or not, he is the only person we are looking to for the leadership of the Mandela family,” AbaThembu royal spokesman Mfundo Mtirara said yesterday.
He was speaking in response to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s statement on Wednesday that Mandela’s daughter Makaziwe Mandela was head of the Mandela family.
Madikizela-Mandela released the statement denying media reports of feuds amongst members of the Mandela family.
“Mrs Madikizela-Mandela would like to place it on record that there is no succession or dynasty debate in the Mandela Family,” the statement read. “In accordance with customary law and tradition, the eldest daughter, being Ms. Makaziwe Mandela, will head the family and will make decisions with the support of her two sisters.”
Madikizela-Mandela said Mandla was “respected as one of Nelson Mandela’s grandchildren, the next generation of the Mandela family”.
But Mtirara yesterday said culturally there was no way that Makaziwe could lead the family.
“Leadership goes from father to son. We respect Makaziwe as the eldest daughter.
“She is expected to guide and advise Mandla.
“Let bygones be bygones. Also, she is married,” Mtirara said.
Eastern Cape customary law expert Dr Nokuzolo Mndende said Madiba’s daughters could not have a meeting by themselves on a matters that affect the family. She said the children of Mandela’s dead children had to be involved.
“Although Makaziwe is the first born child of Madiba, she cannot take decisions with her sisters. Children of Thembekile – Ndileka in this case – must be involved and be part of the inner circle. This includes Makgatho’s sons, especially his eldest son from marriage,” said Mndende.
Makgatho, the father of Mandla, died in 2005.
Nkosi Xolile Ndevu, the general secretary of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) said Mandla remained the heir of the Mandela family.
“Mafungwashe does not lead any traditional ceremonies, there are men for that,” he said.
Mandla is the head of the Mandela chiefdom in Mvezo and has been the only grandson based in the Eastern Cape.
Neither Mandla, Makaziwe nor Madikizela-Mandela could be reached for comment yesterday.
But Mandla’s spokesman, Freddy Pilusa, said yesterday that the Mvezo chief had chosen to focus his energy on honouring his grandfather’s legacy and not by getting involved in debates.
But in an affidavit before the Mthatha High Court in July, Mandla said that as the eldest male descent, he was entitled – and expected – to make decisions on behalf of his family.
The affidavit formed part of the exhumation of graves case. — Additional reporting by Kathryn Kimberley and Xolisa Phillip
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