AmaXhosa king backs calls for new traditional leaders' party because 'ANC is side-lining them'

AmaXhosa King Mpendulo Zwelonke Sigcawu has backed the formation of a new political party by traditional leaders who accuse the ANC of side-lining them.

Sigcawu said the move was long overdue and would shake the country’s political scene.

However‚ his view flies in the face of that of former African Union Commission chairwoman Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma‚ who visited Sigcawu’s Nqadu Great Place near Willowvale on Tuesday.

• Xhosa king rebuffs Dlamini-Zuma, says women too sensitive to leadOutgoing African Union chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma's attempt to woo the support of Xhosa King Mpendulo Zwelonke Sigcawu backfired.

Dlamini-Zuma‚ who is said to be running for the country’s top job‚ urged traditional leaders not to break the long-existing ties between them and the ANC‚ saying the move would be detrimental to poor rural communities.

But Sigcawu called the formation of the new party a “very good initiative by South African royalty”.

Full story on HeraldLIVE.

- TMG Digital/Daily Dispatch