The battle lines have been drawn between the Masia Traditional Council and the Matsila Royal Family over Chief Livhuwani Matsila’s status.
On Monday, the royal household dismissed reports that Matsila had been ousted as traditional leader at HaMatsila village in Limpopo.
The traditional authorities rallied behind Matsila, also known as Thovhele Radzambo II, singling out Mbangiseni Joseph Masia as the chief agitator behind the “preposterous” reports.
Other than being royal blood, Matsila is secretary of the ANC’s powerful electoral committee, which champions President Cyril Ramaphosa’s agenda to renew the party.
The electoral committee vets all candidates for national and provincial lists including ministers, premiers, and MECs. It can also disqualify unsuccessful candidates.
Manwele Ambani Thenga claimed that Masia was driving the “obnoxious narrative”, which was not only fallacious but distastefully incorrect, unfounded, and extremely mischievous.
Thenga said the Matsila royal family did not wish to be drawn into pointless debates with Masia, accusing him of leading a group of people claiming to represent the Masia royal council.
He listed the following “pertinent historical facts” to set the record straight, saying this was “to thwart any mischievous attempts by the counter-revolutionary, intransigent forces eagerly determined to divide and rule the people of Matsila”.
Thenga said:
• The Matsila royal family does not recognise Mbangiseni Masia as their senior traditional leader.
• It is also a fact that he is also not recognised by prominent members and houses of the Masia royal family because he was wrongly installed in place of his brother’s son, who is the rightful heir of the Masia people.
• In terms of genealogical order and lineage, the Matsila royal family is senior in the Masia house.
• Khosi Radzambo Matsila, the son of Matsila, was installed as chief of the Matsila royal family, and his son Khosi Shandukani Matsila succeeded him.
• Both Khosi Radzambo and Khosi Shandukani did not subject themselves to or fall under the authority of the Masia chieftaincy by virtue of their birth right and seniority.
• In adherence to the long-established customary and traditional principle of primogeniture, the Matsila chieftaincy was always independent of Masia, and there was a relationship of co-existence between the two closely related royal families.
• As a matter of fact, Masia’s father, Khosi TT Masia, was installed as chief of the Masia family by Khosi Shandukani Matsila, who is the grandfather of Chief Livhuwani Matsila.
Thenga said Masia’s “apparent consternation and bitterness” started after the Matsila royal family’s resolution to restore their rightful position as an independent chieftaincy.
He said Masia had no right to meddle in Matsila royal family affairs, noting that Masia’s own legitimacy in ascending to the throne as senior traditional leader was marred by regrettable controversy.
It was allegedly against customary and traditional protocols.
He said Matsila was reaffirmed as senior traditional leader of the Matsila people during Heritage Day celebrations on Sunday.
“This follows the resolution of the senior Makhadzis and other children of the late Chief Shandukani Matsila, as well as other prominent members of the royal family.
“This ceremony to re-enact the Matsila chiefdom was presided over by Thovhele Kennedy Midiyavhathu Tshivhase of the Tshivhase dynasty,” he said, adding that traditional leaders from all over the country witnessed it.
Until now, said Thenga, the Matsila royal family and Chief Matsila had not received any communication regarding the “bizarre” removal.
He said reports about the chief’s removal were false propaganda to undermine the rights of the Matsila people “and our royal family”.
Even if this “fake” removal was to be taken seriously, we only learned of it from the media, because due process was not followed, he said, adding that only the Matsila royal house could make the decision.
The Matsila royal family, he explained further, was alert to Masia’s resolve to galvanise support to achieve “devious intentions”.
“In this trajectory of malady and madness, he is using one or two members of the Matsila royal family.”
Matsila said Masia attempted to block community projects to benefit the community and neighboring villages.
“His main source of pain is that the president of the country, various government ministers, and other key players in business in South Africa have visited the Matsila traditional community,” he said.
According to him, various projects were also launched to attain social cohesion and community upliftment.
“Needless to think, in his polluted and evil mind, his own area does not get the same attention because he lacks vision and tangible plans to uplift the community.”
He claimed that the Masia people were on the verge of rebelling against Masia “if he does not stop nursing his ego at their expense”.
Said Matsila: “I do not compete with anybody; I serve my people as their leader and always ensure that I invest in their welfare.
“I do not have time to play marbles, and I do not owe my allegiance to Masia the individual but to my people and the Masia community at large with whom we co-exist as relatives, families, and friends.”
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