Thandisizwe Diko hailed from a royal family in the Eastern Cape but will be remembered for his alleged role in a dodgy Gauteng PPE deal that earned him a monstrous profit, costing his wife, Khusela, her job as presidency spokesperson.
The 43-year-old KwaBhaca chief, from the town formerly known as Mount Frere, died after a short illness on Sunday night, his family said in a statement, without disclosing the nature of his ailment. He fell sick after visiting a relative in East London. Diko phoned family to say he was feeling ill and later told them he had been placed on oxygen at Life Beacon Bay Hospital.
“iSizwe samaBhaca and the royal family are still coming to terms with this shocking and painful loss of our beloved father, son and husband. We are humbled by the outpouring of support and grief since the news of His Majesty's passing first became known. We thank you for keeping the family and iSizwe samaBhaca in your thoughts and prayers during this time of grief,” the family said.
Chief Mwelo Nokonyane, the chairperson of the Congress for Traditional Leadership SA in the Eastern Cape, described it as “sad” that Diko had died before he could clear his name.
The subject of a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe, Diko was believed to have earned an 800% profit when his company, Royal Bhaca Projects, sold Covid-19 personal protective equipment to the Gauteng health department, in an allegedly irregular R125m PPE contract.
Diko and his wife, Khusela, were close friends of then Gauteng health MEC Bandile Masuku, who was fired by premier David Makhura for his alleged involvement in awarding the tender.
Khusela, who is a princess of the AbaThembu’s Nobetha royal clan, has been on special leave since July after being suspended as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson for allegedly failing to disclose her husband’s financial interests.
She and the former Gauteng health MEC are also facing a disciplinary hearing by the ANC in Gauteng where they both served as members of the provincial executive committee.
One of Diko’s headmen, royal family chair Nkosi Mdutywana Ngango Bhaca Sangoni, said his death was devastating news to the community where he did a lot of development work.
“He phoned to say that he was very sick and had a stomach ache. Shortly thereafter he said he was short of oxygen and was now on oxygen. And then we heard he had passed on.
“It was so sudden and shocking. We are so devastated as a nation that we have lost our leader.”
Both the Diko and Sangoni families expressed their shock over the untimely death of the chief and head of the KwaBhaca traditional council.
“It is with great sadness that KwaBhaca Great Place announces the passing of our king, His Majesty Madzikane II Diko,” said Lumko Mtimde on Monday morning. “Ingonyama Madzikane II Diko passed away after a short illness.
“Isizwe samaBhaca and the royal family are still coming to terms with this shocking and painful loss of our beloved father, son and husband, and we will make a further announcement once the kingdom has finalised the arrangements for the burial.”
The MEC also urges the family as they prepare for the funeral of Nkosi Diko to observe Covid-19 protocols.
— Cogta spokesperson Mamnkeli Ngam
Cogta MEC Xolile Nqatha sent condolences to the Diko royal family and KwaBhaca traditional council. “The MEC also urges the family as they prepare for the funeral of Nkosi Diko to observe Covid-19 protocols,” said Cogta spokesperson Mamnkeli Ngam.
Diko was Contralesa’s Alfred Nzo district chair and worked as Alfred Nzo development forum CEO.
He was known for being involved in a number of community development projects and for reviving customary practices including inkciyo, or virginity testing, to fight HIV-Aids and encourage higher moral values among the youth.
But he was also the subject of controversy, even in the local community. In 2020, more than 50 protesters gathered outside Diko’s Elundini royal residence claiming that in 2019 he had closed an access road linking a number of villages to the town.
While the Diko and Sangoni royal families maintained Diko was the king of AmaBhaca, Cogta and other senior traditional leaders, including AmaBhaca, maintained Diko was a chief, not a king.
Diko’s mother, Nkosikazi Nosizwe, had been acting on his behalf with Bhaca traditional leaders while he was occupied with his businesses.
Khusela Diko’s brother, Prince Bandile Valithuba, said Khusela had been in Gauteng when her husband died and had taken the earliest flight to East London on Monday. “His sudden death has shocked us all. This has left us devastated, both as his in-laws and family.”
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