Beloved teacher and community leader will be laid to rest in Dutywa

Nine months after one of her sons was gunned down in cold blood during a robbery, Nkosikazi Nozinzile Mkiva, the mother of poet laureate and cultural leader Zolani Mkiva, the general secretary of Contralesa, will be buried on Saturday.

A beloved teacher and village shopkeeper in the Dutywa area, Mkiva died on June 29 in Mthatha and will be laid to rest in Bholotwa village in Dutywa.

Mkiva, 74, was the widow of Gwebindlala Makhonya Mkiva, a senior adviser to the amaXhosa king Xolilizwe Sigcawu.

“She was passionate about the development of her community, supporting those members of the community in need and children,” Zolani said.

Zolani said government, parliamentary, and traditional leaders were expected to attend the funeral which will be officiated by the president of the Pan African parliament, Chief Fortune Charumbira.

“Prominent South Africans who have indicated their attendance include Contralesa president Kgoshi Mathupa Mokoena, National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders deputy chair Nkosi Langa Mavuso and the reigning amaXhosa king Ahlangene Vulikhaya Sigcawu,” he said.

Prince Magudvulela Dlamini, a senior member of the Dlamini Royal Family of Eswatini Kingdom, and PAC president and newly appointed minister of land reform & rural development, Mzwanele Nyhontso, will also be present.

The death of Mkiva came after one of her sons, Ekurhuleni businessman Mongezi Mkiva, was shot dead in Gauteng. Mongezi died after being shot several times during a robbery at his flat in Rondebult on September 24 last year.

He was killed by thugs who were robbing him of the cash he had just received from his clients.

His mother died with a sore heart since nobody has been held accountable for gunning down her son.

“This is extremely painful; the family is devastated that now we are to bury my mother the Mkiva matriarch, hardly 10 months after the brutal murder of my brother,” Zolani said.

Mkiva has been described as a community builder, adviser, disciplinarian, family woman, matriarch and a people’s person.

Messages of support continue to come from many sources, including the national and provincial governments, institutions of traditional leadership and royal houses, business people, and arts and culture structures in the country and the continent.

Contralesa provincial chair and ANC MP Nkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana, who first came to know the Mkiva family when he was working in Dutywa as a magistrate, paid tribute to her.

“Mama Mkiva and her late husband made a difference to many lives in Dutywa as they were operating as businesspeople in the area, assisting needy families,” Nonkonyana said.

“Her departure is not only a blow to the family of our general secretary but also to many people. We are with the family at this time of need.”

Mokoena and Mavuso said Mkiva had moulded a national treasure in Zolani. “We can see her work as a good mother to her very committed son, Zolani,” Mokoena said.

“Mama Mkiva has raised a national asset. Her passing on is not only a loss to the family but to Contralesa and the entire institution. This is because of the mother she was.”

Mavuso said the bereavement had affected all the institutions of traditional leaders.

“To lose a mother, a pillar of strength for anyone, is such a big blow and painful journey.

“Irrespective of how strong you are as a person, it affects one in many ways.

“This is the reason that we all pray for the strength of the family, hoping that they would find comfort in God and celebrate the beautiful life that the mother lived and produced such sound leaders as Zolani.

“As the old adage goes, you know the character of a family through the conduct of its children.”

AmaXhosa King Ahlangene Sigcawu and co-operative governance and traditional affairs deputy minister Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe extended heartfelt condolences.

“We have known the Mkiva family for the greater part of our lives,” the king said.

“Their loss is our loss precisely for how their family has always served the kingdom, with enormous contribution nje ngamaphakathi athembekileyo [as trusted traditional councillors].

“We will forever remember mama uNozinzile for her humility, business leadership and welcoming mother, who gave both her husband and son time to devote their services to the kingdom of amaXhosa.

“Rest in peace Nkosikazi of the Gcwanini clan and Mkiva family; may your mothering skills of building leaders be emulated by many for our nation and the country to prosper.”

Burns-Ncamashe said: “Losing a mother, the matriarch of the family, inflicts excruciating pain and leaves a heavy heart with a great sense of grief.

“Please find solace in the knowledge that God will never forsake you and your family. God will strengthen you with his gracious mercies.”

Amathole Local House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders chair Nkosi Xhanti Sigcawu, who worked for many years with the Mkiva family, said: “Mama Mkiva has left an amazing legacy, both as a teacher and a businesswoman.

“She has been a pillar of strength to the teaching fraternity and the business community, and community development.”

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