Murdered Abathembu king’s son’s repatriated spirit buried in Elliotdale
Hlanga, heir-apparent to the throne, had to flee for his life shortly after his father was murdered by two of his brothers
The repatriated spirit of the son of slain Abathembu King Nxeko was buried in Khwenxurha village, Xhora (formerly Elliotdale), on Friday.
King Nxeko was killed by his sons, Dlomo and Ndungwana, to prevent heir-apparent Hlanga’s ascendancy to the throne in 1650.
The repatriation of Hlanga’s spirit at Efutheni Mountain in Nkanga village, Willowvale, was conducted on Thursday.
After 12 years of the Hlanga royal house working with premier Oscar Mabuyane, Hlanga’s spirit was repatriated from Amaxhosa land.
In his speech, Mabuyane had to manoeuvre and tiptoe carefully to avoid being perceived as taking any side between the royal house of Amadlomo — the reigning kings of the Abathembu — and the Hlanga royal house, better known as Amaqiya.
Hlanga was Nxeko’s senior son and heir-apparent born in the same great house as Dlomo, while Ndungwana was born to the Right-hand House.
Though of a junior house, Ndungwana was still the oldest son. Amaqiya referred to Hlanga as the rightful king of Abathembu.
“When King Nxeko was ready to hand over the reins to his heir, Hlanga, Nxeko was killed by Dlomo and Ndungwana at Msana near the Mbhase River,”
Hlanga royal house spokesperson Nkosi Simphiwe Vulisango Pantshwa said on Friday.
After Nxeko’s death, a succession struggle in 1650 ensued between Hlanga and Dlomo which led to the Battle of Msana.
Hlanga was defeated by Dlomo, assisted by Ndungwana.
After that, the house of Dlomo became the reigning kingship line.
“After the killing of Nxeko, Hlanga fled and settled between the Mbhashe and Kei rivers.
“He sought asylum in the land of Amagcaleka.
“Amagcaleka kings protected Hlanga’s resting place and the area was treated Pantshwa said.
Amadlomo, who agreed Hlanga was senior to Dlomo, denied Nxeko was killed by Dlomo and Ndungwana, but said he had died of natural causes.
They agreed that Hlanga had been defeated in the Battle of Msana over royal succession.
On Thursday, a large delegation of Hlanga royal house members led by Amaqiya head Nkosi Bhongolwethu Khethizulu Bacela and his uncle, Nkosi Sithembiso Vulinkethe Bacela, travelled to Efutheni mountain and met Amaxhosa King Ahlangene Sigcawu’s delegation led by Nkosi Zanenkululeko as sacred,”
Salakuphatha to repatriate the spirit of Hlanga.
Pantshwa said the remains of Hlanga were poorly preserved and had degenerated into the soil, hence only the spirit was repatriated.
On Friday, sports, arts & culture minister Zizi Kodwa and traditional leaders including Contralesa president Kgoshi Mathupa Mokoena, Contralesa provincial secretary Mkhanyiseli Dudumayo, correctional services deputy minister and former Contralesa president Phatekile Holomisa, Eastern Cape House of Traditional and Khoi-san Leaders chair Mpumalanga Gwadiso, his deputy Gwazinamba Matanzima and retired Eastern Cape judge president Themba Sangoni, an Amaqiya senior traditional leader, attended the event.
Political leaders included UDM president Bantu Holomisa and ANC head of the presidency Sibongile Besani, as well as Mbhashe mayor Samkelo Janda.
Amadlomo senior royal family members including Matanzima, Mfundo Mtirara and Zweliyazongoma Mnqanqeni, Amandungwana traditional leaders led by Patrick Ndarhala — as well as Amaxhosa representative Zanenkululeko Salakuphathwa and representatives of Amampondo, and a number of other nations — witnessed the reburial.
“We are here today for the reburial of Nkosi Hlanga, the son of the first recognised Abathembu King Nxeko,” Mabuyane said.
“We were requested by the Amaqiya Royal Council to assist with the repatriation of Nkosi Hlanga from Efutheni mountain in Nkhanga village, Willowvale, to Khwenxurha Great Place in Xhorha.
“Consensus was thus reached to conduct the spiritual repatriation.
“The royal house of Hlanga proposed that traditional rituals and the repatriation of the spirit be conducted at Willowvale on March 14.
“I am happy to report that the spiritual repatriation was executed successfully.”
A monument in memory of Hlanga is to be erected.
The Hlanga royal house is still hoping to have the line of succession returned to it.
The current Abathembu reigning monarchs are King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo of the Great House of Amadlomo and King Siyambonga Matanzima of the Right-hand House.
Kodwa said the reburial and erection of memorials for traditional leaders were done to recognise the role they had played in the land dispossession wars with the colonisers.
“This is also part of rewriting our distorted history,” Kodwa said.
Bhongolwethu Khethizulu Bacela urged Mabuyane and Kodwa to ensure that the commitment to erect a monument for Hlanga would not be an abandoned project after the elections, even if they were moved to other portfolios.