MZANZI ISSUE 16

Heritage
started long before Van Riebeeck and the Dutch arrived at the
Cape of Good Hope.
SA’s ancient royal houses
When the Dutch arrived here, they found a social system
among the Khoekhoen – one of the two main branches of
the collectively named Khoisan or original inhabitants of the
southwestern parts of Africa – consisting of a number of
pastoral tribes or clans, each headed by a powerful chief or
captain with his own ruling seat, known as a kraal.
While the chief’s kraal – and his personal herd of sheep and
cattle - reflected his status, power and wealth that set him
apart from his fellow clansmen or followers, his kraal did not
display anything like the extravagant opulence of European
royal courts. Unfortunately no examples of such Khoekhoen
chiefs’ kraals have survived and we can only guess what they
must have looked like.
However, as mentioned, other monarchical systems that existed
among the tribes of Bantu-origin in South Africa back then,
continue to this day in the form of seven kingdoms. Chapter
11 of the Constitution of South Africa recognizes the role and
status of traditional leadership according to customary law,
but further legislation was later adopted that ‘democratised’
the system, including requirements that 40% of the council
must be elected, and one-third must be women.
But these kings don’t live in the traditional Western idea of a
castle or palace such as, for example, Buckingham Palace in
the United Kingdom. However, receiving generous royal salaries
and benefits from the state, they do live in relative luxury in
their residences located at what are variously referred to as
royal houses, royal kraals, great places or great palaces. Some
of these can be visited, but most are private and closed to the
public, although you can view them from nearby by visiting
the areas where you will also find much else of interest.
A panel of experts appointed by former President Thabo
Mbeki in 2003, investigated traditional leadership disputes
and claims dating back to 1927. The panel discovered that
out of the 13 paramount kingships that existed then, only seve
were qualified to be recognized as kingships or queenships.
However, subsequently then president Jacob Zuma gave his
assurance that those traditional leaders who were found to
be illegitimate would not be dethroned, but that the title would
come to an end on the death of the current incumbents.
The seven officially recognised kingdoms/queenships that remain
in South Africa, are :
• King Zwelonke Sigcawu of the AmaXhosa (Eastern Cape)
• King Goodwill Zwelithini of the AmaZulu (KwaZulu-Natal)
• King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo of the AbaThembu (Eastern
Cape)
• King Toni Mphephu Ramabulana of the VhaVenda
(Limpopo) (currently being challenged for the throne by
Princess Masindi Mphephu)
• King Makhosonke Enoch Mabena of the AmaNdebele
(Mpumalanga)
• King Zanozuko Tyelovuyo Sigcau of the AmaMpondo
(Eastern Cape)
• King Thulare Victor Thulare of the Bapedi ba Maroteng
(Limpopo)
A king’s labyrinth defences
King Mphephu of the VhaVenda, the tribe to which South
African President Cyril Ramaphosa belongs, lives at his
official residence, the House at Dzata, in Dzanani, Limpopo.
Dzata is regarded as the spiritual home of the VhaVenda and
is the ancient capital of Venda. Some years ago, the writer
was honoured to visit the royal kraal of the current king’s
predecessor, his half-brother King Tshimangadzo Dimbanyika
Mphephu, who died in a car accident in 1997.
One fascinating detail of that visit was a cliffside directly
iStock-Bob Hilscher
iStock-Bob Hilscher.