Miss Universe has another reason to smile after king declared rightful heir
More than a century after colonial authorities declared an Eastern Cape king a commoner, a judge has declared his great-grandson the rightful heir to the AmaMpondomise throne.
Tuesday’s decision in the Mthatha High Court means Zozibini Tunzi – who was feted by king-designate Luzuko Matiwane when she returned to her village after being crowned Miss SA last August – has another reason to celebrate after being crowned Miss Universe.
Tunzi joined Matiwane in a war chant and dance at her Sidwadweni village home in Tsolo, an ox was slaughtered to celebrate her win, and Matiwane told her: “I am donating a cow to you just to thank you for raising the AmaMpondomise flag high.”
The beauty queen replied: “I love Tsolo, I love Sidwadweni, and I am proud that I come from this area. I will always remain the girl from Sidwadweni in Tsolo in the Eastern Cape.”
A succession battle among the AmaMpondomise flared shortly after Mthatha judge Richard Brooks delivered a judgment last May that reinstated a kingship that had been withdrawn in 1904, when King Mhlontlo was declared a commoner by British colonial authorities. AmaMpondomise are divided between two royal clans – the Dosini and Jola (Phahlo) royal houses, each claiming to be the legitimate house to bear the heir to the throne. The Phahlo house identified Matiwane as king-designate, while the Dosini house nominated Ntombenkonzo Maseti as crown princess, and their names were forwarded to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
When he declined to say who was the rightful heir, asking the two houses to settle the matter between themselves, Matiwane asked the court to disqualify Maseti. Judge Mbulelo Jolwana agreed to do so.
He gave Ramaphosa 30 days to recognise Matiwane as the heir to the throne of a royal house whose history has been traced as far back as the 13th century. But he also said that may not be the end of the matter, as the Dosini house could still bring a challenge under the 2003 Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework Act. It argues the 11 kings who preceded Mhlonto to the throne since around 1300 were also illegitimate because the disinheritance of the Dosini was not done in compliance with customary law.
But Jolwana said: “I could not find evidence that Dosini ever ruled anywhere, nor is there evidence of his descendants ever becoming kings anywhere since the disinheritance of Dosini.
“That makes the [Dosini royal family ’ s] submission and claim to be the core ruling family untenable, as it is not substantiated by any facts.”
Matiwane’s right of succession had been clearly established, however. “It follows that a clear right has been established for him to succeed Mhlonto ... at least until the disinheritance of Dosini is successfully challenged,” said Jolwana.