Mandela’s grandson Mandla not on parliament list

While Eastern Cape traditional leaders on the ANC candidates’ list for the elections could see the number of royals increasing in parliament, Nelson Mandela’s grandson Nkosi Mandla Mandela did not make the cut.

At least six Eastern Cape royals and traditional leaders are on the ANC list — Nkosi Phathekile Holomisa, Nkosi Xhanti Sigcawu, Prince Zolile Burns-Ncamashe, Nkosikazi Khusela Diko, Prince Phumelele Ndamase and Contralesa general secretary Prince Zolani Mkiva — but Mandela, 49, was not nominated.

Mkiva, Holomisa, and Burns-Ncamashe are also ANC MPs, and Ndamase is an MPL.

Of the 200 candidates in the regional-to-national list, Diko is at 63, Sigcawu at 107, Holomisa at 108 and Mkiva at 127.

On the national list of 25 candidates, Burns-Ncamashe is at number three with Ndamase at six.

Asked to comment, Mandela said: “I will reserve my comment for now.”

Mandela, the Mvezo Traditional Council head, has been an ANC MP since 2009.

He is chair of the portfolio committee on agriculture, land reform and rural development.

Holomisa, 64, has been justice and correctional services deputy minister since 2019, and had been labour deputy minister since 2014, before assuming his present portfolio.

This year marks his 30th year as an ANC MP.

“When the first democratic elections were held in 1994, and in subsequent elections since then, the ANC deployed me to parliament,” Holomisa said.

He said the ANC accommodated all sectors of society including traditional leaders.

“Quite a few of the predominantly black political parties are making approaches to traditional leaders, promising to address their current grievances.

“The gradual increase in the number of traditional leaders on the benches of the ANC goes together with increasing attention being given to these concerns.”

UDM president Bantu Holomisa is a prince in the AmaHegebe royal house led by his nephew, Nkosi Phathekile Holomisa.

Bantu Holomisa said there were no traditional leaders on the UDM list.

Burns-Ncamashe joined parliament in February 2021 and was appointed co-operative governance and traditional affairs deputy minister in March last year.

He said it was humbling when your organisation expressed trust and confidence in your ability to serve as a public representative.

Mkiva became an ANC MP on May 22 2019, serving as a permanent delegate member in the National Council of Provinces. He is the chair of the select committee on petitions and executive undertakings.

Mkiva said traditional leaders had always been part of the political terrain.

“The ANC itself was established by traditional leaders and we have many traditional leaders,” he said.

Sigcawu, the Amathole Local House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders chair, and uncle of amaXhosa King Ahlangene Sigcawu, is the head of the Mbhashe Traditional Council.

“The involvement of traditional leaders will assist in dealing with many issues including those affecting traditional communities,” Sigcawu said.

Contralesa provincial chair Nkosi Mwelo Nonkonyana, a former ANC MP, said he would continue voting ANC.