King’s men hit out at government
DESPITE pronouncements that no foul play was suspected in the death of abaThembu senior traditional leader Chief Daludumo Lindikhaya Mtirara, a faction of the royal family aligned to him has hit out at government for failing to implement the resolutions of a commission set up to find the rightful individual to act as the king of the nation.
Mtirara, 51, who is believed to have shot himself at his Pretoria home on Thursday, will be buried at his royal home at Xhongorha, Bhityi, near Mthatha on December 10.
Mtirara was a Unisa Bachelor of Commerce honours graduate who was promoted to the rank of brigadiergeneral in the SA National Defence Force in 2014. He joined the military in July 1990. He will receive a military funeral.
The Ngangelizwe royal family believes had the government acted according to the findings of the Tolo Commission and installed King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo’s brother, Prince Mankunku Mthandeni Jongisizwe Dalindyebo, instead of the king’s son Azenathi as the acting king, Daludumo would still be alive.
“This apparently took strain on him. If the recommendation of the Tolo Commission and the resolution of the royal family were implemented by the government, I think my brother could still be alive today,” said his eldest brother, Chief Thanduxolo Mtirara.
Daludumo was the secretary of the Ngangelizwe Royal Family. He was one of the most vocal and critical members of the abaThembu royal family over the controversial royal succession.
Thanduxolo said Daludumo stood for truth and never compromised the custom of the abaThembu.
Since 2012 he worked hard to strengthen the abaThembu and called for a change of leadership when it seemed that bad things were happening to the throne which were bringing the abaThembu into disrepute.
“Naturally, he was disappointed when the government failed to implement the royal family resolution to recognise Prince Mthandeni as the acting king,” said Thanduxolo.
Daludumo’s other brother, Chief Thandisizwe Mtirara, the leader of amaDlomo Royal Family, a faction lobbying for Azenathi to be the acting king, said he was now focusing all his energy on mourning his brother and for unity in the family.
“We are all – Thanduxolo, Daludumo and I – from one mother and one father. We are the same blood.
“Daludomo’s passing is devastating to all royal family members, irrespective of our differences over the royal succession.
“We are united in mourning,” said Thandisizwe.
Both Thandisizwe and Thanduxolo described Daludomo’s death as a loss to amaDlomo and abaThembu. He was described as “a warm person filled with humility”.
He is survived by his wife No-Italy Mtirara and children Inga and Sakhekile. —