Amaxhosa kingdom in mourning after death of Sibini

The amaxhosa kingdom is mourning the death of one of its senior royal members, Nkosikazi Nolulamile Sibini, from the Imingcangathelo royal house.

The retired schoolteacher succumbed to internal injuries, just a week after she was knocked down in a hit-and-run accident in Butterworth on February 2.

Sibini, 67, who taught in several schools around Centane in a more than 40-year career, will be buried at Feni Great Place in Centane on Saturday.

She spent most of her teaching career at Nkantolo Junior Secondary School, and retired while teaching at Tshawe Junior Secondary in the Centane district. After retiring, Sibini concentrated on assisting in royal duties.

She was a secretary of the royal family under the Tyali Traditional Council, taking over from her husband, Nkosi Themba Sibini, whose health had deteriorated.

Sibini was also a member of Imbumba Yamakhosikazi Akomkhulu (the forum for wives of traditional leaders) and of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA.

Sibini died on February 12 at Frere Hospital in East London.

The royal family said no arrests had been made in the hitand-run accident.

Nkosi Daluxolo Ntlikithi and Imingcangathelo royal spokesperson Nkosi Phathuxolo Tyali said Sibini had played a big role in education development in the area, and had helped instil pride in education within royal family members and the nation.

“Nkosikazi Nolulamile has set a good example of the importance of education among women in royalty and women in rural areas.

“She has been the epitome of education development and has seen many other women within the traditional leadership embarking on campaigns to ensure their daughters focus on education rather than getting married young,” Tyali said.

Ntlikithi and Tyali called for law enforcement agencies to trace the vehicle that hit her.

“We’d hoped that by this time the police would have arrested the driver.

“We appeal to police management in the Amathole district to ensure that their members trace the driver and bring them to book.

“We will have closure only after the driver has been arrested and jailed.”

Ntlikithi said Sibini’s death had been a big blow to the people family ’and s person, described a strong her mother as a of the nation, a peace-loving individual who never raised her voice, and a disciplinarian.

“She was everything to us, a pillar of strength, a friend, and a mother.

“She always maintained the dignity of the great place,” said Ntlikithi.

“She played an important role in promoting education, agriculture and cultural practices in Centane.

“Nolulamile was the contact point for young royal wives who wanted to know the dos and don’ts at the royal house and how to act according to royal protocol and customs.

“She upheld the family name. She was a humble, down-to-earth person.”

Sibini is a descendant house of the legendary Xhosa traditional leader, Nkosi Tyali, of the seed-bearer house of King Ngqika of Amarharhabe Kingdom.

Her death left both the senior houses of Phalo — Gcaleka and Rharhabe — and all others devastated, with elders saying she died at a time when the wisdom of veterans was needed most.

Amathole Local House of Traditional Leaders chair Nkosi Xhanti Sigcawu, of the amaxhosa kingdom, and amarharhabe kingdom’s Prince Banzi Tyali expressed their sorrow, saying Sibini had remained true and steadfast in her efforts to uplift and uphold the family name and promote education.

“Nkosikazi Nolulamile was the embodiment of the kind of servant leadership which is the pride of the nation.”

Banzi said: “Her death was a blow to all the houses of Phalo, among them the houses of Ngqika and Tyali.

“We hope that God will show us the light so her legendary footprint can be emulated by current and future generations.”