Mantashe points to King Zanozuko as legitimate heir to crown

19 May 2016 - 20:16 By Lulamile Feni

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe on Thursday entered the royal fray over the sovereignty of the AmaMpondo‚ saying their legitimate king is King Zanozuko Tyelovuyo Sigcau ''I have no authority to anoint kings and I am not running around anointing any‚ but (according to) the history of AmaMpondo succession and royal geneology‚ the king of AmaMpondo was in the line of King Nelson‚ Zanozuko's ancestor. So now the current legitimate king of AmaMpondo is nobody else but Zanozuko.“This had been confirmed by the investigation of the Nhlapo Commission a long time ago. I am not here to make a declaration but say what has been established and that is known by all of you‚'' said Mantashe addressing hundreds of ANC members and traditional leaders on Thursday.Mantashe said that he took issue with comments on Facebook accusing him of coming to Flagstaff in the Eastern Cape to anoint Zanozuko.''I do not have that authority‚ that authority lies within AmaMpondo elders. I am a mere subject of AmaQwathi and a republican. I am not going around anointing kings and I am not even interested in that. Even the ANC does not have that role‚'' he said.Gwede was in Flagstaff at the invitationof ZanozukoZanozuko and Queen MaSobhuza Sigcau‚ widow of the late Eastern Mpondolond King Mpondombini Sigcau are claiming legitimacy over the kingship of AmaMpondo.In 2010 the Nhlapo Commission in its determination found that Zanozuko was the legimate king of all AmaMpondo and Mpondombini was stripped off of his kingship but challenged the matter in court.The court is yet to finalise the kingship row...

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