Acting AmaMpondo Queen Lombekiso MaSobhuza Sigcau has until next Saturday to resign from the high office.
The instruction for the queen to hand over the throne is from co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) MEC Fikile Xasa, who wrote to Sigcau on December 26 giving her 30 days to resign.
Xasa said this followed a decision by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein which in June 2017 dismissed an appeal against an order of the North Gauteng High Court by Weziwe Sigcau and her mother, the acting queen.
King Mpondombini Sigcau was the erstwhile paramount chief of Eastern Mpondoland (AmaMpondo AseQaukeni).
Princess Weziwe, the royal house spokesperson, confirmed on Thursday that her mother had received Xasa’s letter, but said they were in the process of challenging the decision.
Weziwe said: “We are taking legal action and the letter is already with our lawyers.
“It is therefore sub judice to comment on it.”
The princess said the royal house was wondering why Xasa had written such an important letter on a public holiday (December 26) and e-mailed it to them.
“What was the rush? Why did he write and send the letter during the festive season?
“In August we are going back to court to ask for the review of the Nhlapo Commission and the outcomes might change things,” she said.
The queen and princess took former President Jacob Zuma to court accusing him of interfering in the sovereignty of the nation because he did not consult the royal family before accepting the Nhlapo Commission’s recommendation, which found Zanozuko Sigcau to be the legitimate king of all AmaMpondo. The commission also found that Mpondombini was irregularly appointed when he was made king of Eastern Mpondoland in 1979.
The SCA confirmed a November 2015 high court decision that Zuma did not have to consult the royal family and dismissed the appeal of the two.
In his letter to the queen, Xasa said: “Kindly be advised that the department is implementing the Constitutional Court judgment and your services will be terminated within 30 days from the date of receipt of this letter.”
Weziwe said the family was disappointed that the letter was all over social media, claiming it was leaked deliberately.
“Why was it disseminated on social media? This is a personal letter written to a senior member of the royal family concerning her fate as the head of a big nation.
“What is the agenda here? This matter has not even been discussed by the royal family, but it is all over social media. It is on Facebook as we speak. AmaMpondo are fuming.”
The spokesperson said the royal house also found it odd that the queen had been given until next Saturday to leave office.
“How can you do that to somebody who has served for over 43 years? At least if it was three months or so that could have been better. There is also a labour issue here which we will pursue,” Weziwe said.
AmaMpondo royal council spokesperson Prince Mzwandile Maraqana said recognition of King Zanozuko by the government was long overdue, but it was also divisive to dump MaSobhuza.
“We think governance should not disregard the role that Thandizulu and MaSobhuza played in the traditional leadership of AmaMpondo.
“So it would be unfair for the government to simply dump them. It is our wish that the government do something to thank them for their contribution,” said Maraqana...