Royalty in SA is fast losing its grandeur and its essence as custodian and repository of customs and culture of the nation they lead.
Succession battles have seen royal families reduce traditional leadership into laughing stocks.
Mudslinging, backstabbing, hanging out dirty linen in public, manipulation, disrespect and dishonesty all play out in the public eye.
It is now commonplace that every time a monarch passes there is a succession row.
The drama that played out at the funeral of AmaMpondo King Zanozuko Tyelovuyo Sigcau is part of a bigger picture of royal succession rows.
These tussles cause instability in the kingdoms and divide allegiance among traditional leaders.
Kings and traditional leaders are supposed to be the custodians and repositories of custom, culture and heritage — the hearts and souls of the nation.
But, it is they who act in contradiction to their own cultural practices, as if they don’t know their own genealogy, law of succession and customary practice. Why is it that every time a traditional leader dies there is a fight over who should be the successor?
It always ends in court.
On Monday night, on the eve of the funeral of King Zanozuko, a faction of his royal family and Prince Dumelani Sigcau, said to be acting king, launched an urgent application to the Mthatha high court to prevent the king's Tuesday funeral from taking place without their involvement.
They said the legitimate royal family had been sidelined by the government and some people, who challenged Zanozuko’s ascendance to the throne. They called the shots and government recognised them in preparations for the funeral.
Mthatha high court judge Mbulelo Jolwana recognised the applicants as the correct persons and or structure to oversee and perform all customary rituals during the burial or funeral service.
They interdicted President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cogta Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, premier Oscar Mabuyana, Cogta MEC Xolile Nqatha, Zanozuko’s mother Nkosikazi Nobandla Sigcau, the king’s cousins Prince Stella Sigcau II and Nkosi Nzululwazi Jongilanga Sigcau from interfering with the official funeral arrangements.
Quma Funeral Undertakers were ordered to release the body to the applicants. Jolwana permitted Zanozuko’s mother Nobandla to perform rituals in consultation with the AmaFaku royal family and Prince Dumelani Sigcau, provided they were not in conflict with those performed by the applicants.
Dumelani's faction said Zanozuko’s mother and her daughters had joined forces with Nkosi Nzululwazi Sigcau and Princess Stella Sigcau II, Princess Wezizwe Sigcau to challenge the legitimacy of Zanozuko for the throne. But Nzululwazi said he was not there to claim the kingship but to bury Zanozuko with dignity. He said he was Zanozuko's closest relative.
I did not sleep on Monday night but worked on the court matter. I wrote and filed the court outcome story by 2am. By 5am I was at Quma Funeral Undertakers in Lusikisiki to join the AmaFaku royal clan members who came to collect the king’s body.
In the morgue’s waiting hall, tensions ran high.
Quma employees did not hand over the casket, but the Dumelani faction took it and wheeled it into the hall.
Dumelani began conducting rituals to evoke the deceased king’s spirit before the king’s sister, Princess Nontsasa Sigcau, took a microphone from Prince Mthetho Hlamandana and gave it to Prince Sithandile Sigcau, requesting he perform rituals. The same ritual was performed by Dumelani.
The king’s cousin, Prince Mbasa Sigcau, exploded on live national TV, in front of Ramaphosa, his cabinet, seven kings, prominent business leaders and mourners.
He said his grandmother, deputy minister Zoleka Capa, Ramaphosa and his cabinet were undermining the royal family and the court order and accused them of contempt of court.
Cracks in the royal family started to show early with royal spokespersons Prince Mzwandile Maraqana and Nzululwazi issuing conflicting statements on the role of the acting king.
Maraqana said Prince Dumelani Sigcau had been appointed as an acting king by the royal family. Nzululwazi denied that, saying no acting king had been appointed yet. The name of Nobandla was also mentioned as caretaker queen.
Ramaphosa’s speech referred to Prince Dumelani Sigcau as acting king while the obituary read by Prince Phumezile Dinwayo referred to Zanozuko’s mother as caretaker queen.
Dinwayo, before reading the obituary, told mourners that a number of royal protocols had been flouted during the service.
AmaMpondo must gear themselves up for another episode as the fractured royal family is to discuss the appointment of a permanent king to succeed Zanozuko. What we saw on Tuesday might be just the start of worse to come.
DispatchLIVE
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.