By Sihle Mavuso
A battle has erupted over the throne of the Sithole clan of Mhlumayo, near Ladysmith in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
This comes after one of the sons of the late Inkosi Lwazi Sithole, who died in 2010, asked the KwaZulu-Natal cooperative governance and traditional affairs department (Cogta), to dethrone his uncle, Ngqayivele Sithole, as the acting Inkosi and crown him.
Prince Sabelo Sithole, 33, says he is the rightful traditional leader of the clan.
He sent an affidavit to this effect to the department last week. The affidavit is one of the many letters Sabelo has written to the department as he fights to claim the throne.
“I wish to state my disappointment and my dissatisfaction with the Department of Cogta, regarding my birthright and the position that I’m supposed to be occupying as Inkosi of Mhlumayo Tribal Authority as the only surviving son of the late Inkosi Lwazi Sithole. I have been trying in vain to contact the department of Cogta to state my position regarding Ubukhosi beseMhlumayo.
“Since the year 2015, it was an unfortunate situation being ignored by the officials of the Department at uThukela district.
“I have been fit and ready to take my place as Inkosi of Umhlumayo but I could not be given a chance to take my position.
“I also have been liaising with some family members and no one seems to be bothered about my situation. However, some of my family members became very scared of Ibamba-bukhosi [the acting Inkosi], who seems to be very powerful even within the family itself,” Sithole stated under oath.
He claimed that the acting Inkosi chased him and his mother out of their father’s palace.
“He chose to chase us out of the family palace because it seems as if when we continue to talk about my readiness, we cause him trouble,” Sabelo said in his affidavit.
He confirmed to Scrolla.Africa that he wrote the affidavit and other letters to Cogta.
The department said MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi was not aware of the matter and would seek answers from officials before commenting.
The acting Inkosi could not be reached on his cellphone number. We will publish his side of the story as soon as we can locate him.
Pictured above: Prince Sabelo Sithole is claiming the throne of the Sithole clan in Ladysmith.
Source: Supplied
