Willowvale – President Jacob Zuma has called on traditional leaders to work with government to address the issue of drug abuse, crime and moral degeneration in society.
The President made the call while addressing thousands of people who descended on the Eastern Cape on Friday to witness the crowning of the King of amaXhosa, King Mpendulo Zwelonke Sigcawu who replaces his father who died in 2005.
President Zuma told the crowd that the role of traditional leaders in eliminating the ills in society could not be underestimated.
“We need you…we have many people now who are smoking dagga and take all kinds of drugs and are committing crime which is a serious issue that the traditional leaders can assist government to eliminate," President Zuma said, speaking in IsiXhosa.
The small village of Nqadu, outside Willowvale was a scene of celebration as scores of people came to witness the historic moment. It was the first coronation of a king in democratic South Africa, and the last time a King was officially coronated in the country was in the 1960s.
The Eastern Cape provincial government branded the event as that of “international status” and had invited Kings and Queens from across Africa and Europe.
High profile guests
Guests on Friday included President Zuma, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Pravin Gordhan as well as representatives from royal families in Liberia, Lesotho, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast and United Kingdom. Local traditional heads present included Kings of the Venda and Ndebele tribes as well as hundreds of chiefs and headsmen from tribal authorities across South Africa. Messages of support came from royal houses from as far afield as South Korea, Germany and Serbia. There were also congratulatory messages from the Institute of Africa Royalty, Congress of Traditional Leasers and the National House of Traditional Leaders.
Part of the ceremony was beamed live on television with millions witnessing it on several stations.
The event brought to an end years of controversy that has besieged the Xhosa Kingship since the death of King Xolilizwe Sigcawu in 2005.
The coronation of King Zwelonke on Friday follows years of a prolonged court battle instituted by those who questioned his legitimacy to the throne after his father’s passing. King Zwelonke was confirmed king of the amaXhosa last year by President Zuma, after the Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims found that his father, Xolilizwe, was the rightful king. Friday’s ceremony cemented the fact that all Xhosa people, wherever they are in the country, owe allegiance to him.
Dr Nokuzola Mdende, an expert in Xhosa customs and traditions, told SAnews that Zwelonke is indeed a rightful heir to the kingship of the Xhosa. He has also been recognised in terms of the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act.
“King Zwelonke, the son of Xolilizwe Sigcawu, the grandchild of King Zwelidumile is today being confirmed as the real and legitimate heir to the kingship pf amaXhosa. He is the 12th monarch in the Xhosa kingship to be coronated today. What this means is that he is the King of amaXhosa as a whole taking from his ancestors,” Mdende said.
Earlier in the day, President Zuma met with the King and other traditional leaders for a private meeting before he was ushered insider the white marquee where he addressed thousands of people most of them dressed in traditional Xhosa gear.
President Zuma then officially recognised the King.
Traditional leaders should promote morality
“As government, in partnership with the royal family of Amagcaleka and amaXhosa as a whole, we are celebrating the coronation of the King for the first time since the dawn of democracy. The democratic government undertook a long and difficult but necessary process of correcting the wrongs of the past the Nhlapo Commission on the traditional leadership.
“We are further confirming the findings of the commission today and I’m happy that the traditional leaders have indeed spoken in a unified voice about this coronation today,” said President Zuma.
He further said government was serious about addressing the issue of land adding that government remained committed to working with traditional leaders to speed up the land restitution process within the confines of the constitution.
While the apartheid government used traditional leaders to entrench its divide and rule approach, the government that came in 1994 has consistently highlighted the role of traditional leadership in promoting sound morals and ethical practices in society and to assist in raising awareness on challenges such as crime and HIV/AIDS. Authorities say strides had been made to ensure that rural communities under the jurisdiction of traditional leaders have access to basic services such as water, sanitation, electricity, quality education and healthcare as well as economic development opportunities.
The refurbishments will be done through the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent and the support was expected to continue until 2019, the end of the current term of government.
On Friday, President Zuma also emphasised that traditional leaders are also custodians of culture, customs and traditions.
“We will therefore work with the King to promote heritage and the values and customs that define the African people within the context of a modern democracy. Today is the day of celebration, a day that our people have been waiting for.”
The President called on the king to rule his people with dignity and honour and treat his subjects well.
Throughout the event, guests were treated to music from a local school quire, traditional beer known as Umqomboti and meat from several cows slaughtered for the event. – SAnews.gov.za
