AmaMpondomise Queen-Mother Nolitha Matiwane, who died last week after a long illness, will be laid to rest at Kroza Great Place near Qumbu on Saturday.
Matiwane, 65, was also a AmaRharhabe senior princess and the eldest child of King Mxolisi Sandile. She died on November 12 at the Stutterheim Hospital.
Her husband Welsh Matiwane was a descendant of AmaMpondomise King Mhlontlo, who was stripped of his kingship by the colonialist government following the murder of Qumbu magistrate Hamilton Hope at the start of the AmaMpondomise Revolt in 1880-81. Although Mhlontlo was acquitted of the murder, he lost his kingship by administrative action in about 1904.
But AmaMpondomise continued to recognise themselves as a kingdom and in 2012 installed Matiwane’s son Luzuko as monarch.
Matiwane was the head of Ebhotwe Traditional Council between 1984 and 2012 until Luzuko took over the reins.
According to AmaMpondomise Royal Council executive chair Peter Madasa and Rharhabe Kingdom spokesperson Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe, Matiwane was the pillar of the two royal houses.
“Although we had been continuously recognising ourselves as a kingdom, it is quite sad that our democratic government has failed to correct the imbalances of the past caused by the mischievous colonial rule to distort our royalty.
“Queen-Mother Nolitha was looking forward to the democratic government [restoring] our kingship,” said Madasa.
He described Matiwane as a unifying figure, a person who loved her kingdom and the AmaMpondomise. She was also passionate about development, culture and African tradition.
Burns-Ncamashe said the AmaRharhabe were devastated by the death of the senior princess who was also a granddaughter of AmaMpondo’s King Victor Poto Ndamase.
“She was a pillar of strength not only to the late King [Maxhoba Sandile] and Queen Noloyiso Sandile, but also played a pivotal role in bringing stability to the AmaRharhabe Kingdom and the Sandile royal family. She departs at the time when leaders of her stature and demeanour are most required within the institution of royalty,” said Burns-Ncamashe.
Matiwane was the only woman in the 38-member Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders in 1996.
“She will always be remembered for her forthrightness. Indeed she belonged to that ancestral martyrdom of heroines. She was the embodiment of the kind of servant leadership which is the pride of the nation. We hope that God will show us the light so that her legendary footprint can be emulated by current and future generations,” said Burns-Ncamashe.
She leaves behind two children, five grandchildren and two siblings...