North West Premier Kaobitsa Bushy Maape has expressed sadness at the passing of Chief Madoda Shadrack Zibi.
Chief Zibi was the Principal Traditional Leader of Amahlubi in both the Eastern Cape and North West.
According to a statement issued by the Zibi Royal Council, the Chief passed away peacefully on Saturday, 8 April, at his homestead of Khayakhulu, surrounded by family.
Maape described Chief Zibi as an astute traditional leader, who led his people with respect and dignity.
The late Chief served as chairperson of the North West Provincial House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders and worked closely with government in addressing several issues relating to traditional leadership in the province.
The Premier said the province is poorer without him.
“He was an academic and equally an intellectual in his own right. He was a proponent of the history, culture and heritage of African people. Throughout his life, he championed the socio-economic development and self-reliance of communities in rural areas, many of which fall under the jurisdiction of traditional leaders,” Maape added.
According to the provincial government, Amahlubi settled among the Batswana people after World War I.
They arrived in the North West on 20 September 1924. They were then led by Chief Zibi, who was among the young men who volunteered to serve as soldiers in France alongside the Allied Forces in World War I.
This led to some of these men dying when their ship, the SS Mendi, sunk.
According to the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA), Chief Zibi was an elder who was very instrumental in the establishment and sustenance of the Khayakhulu Congregation, which is on the outskirts of Rustenburg, within the Presbytery of Tshwane.
“He was the longest-serving clerk of the session of that congregation,” the statement read.
He was a retired Professor of Humanities from the University of North West, where he also served as a Deputy Vice Chancellor.
The funeral service will be held at the Amahlubi Great Place in Khayakhulu on Saturday, 15 April 2023, at 09:00. – SAnews.gov.za
