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News - Date: 10 December 2010
On several occasions he has told people that he would like to pass the royal baton to his son while he is still alive.
People did not take him seriously as it is unheard of in the local community that the father could give up the reins while still alive.
Now members of the community of Gija outside Malamulele are waiting in anticipation and are bracing themselves to make history when, for the first time, a son replaces a father as a Shangaan chief while the father is still alive.
Chief Samuel Nxumalo, who is also an ANC MP in the National Assembly, will install his son Busa Charles Nxumalo as chief. The historic event will take place at Magona on December 10 (tomorrow).
A spokesperson of the community, Stanley Mkhacwa, said preparations were at an advanced stage and many guests had already confirmed their attendance at the auspicious occasion.
Chief Nxumalo recently told people in different meeting:”I am old and I have a son who is educated and understands today’s world better."
The current chief is a former school principal, who later became a homeland politician before he turned to the ANC before the first democratic elections in 1994. Born in 1928, Chief Nxumalo also participated in the Codesa negotiations, which ushered in a new political order in South Africa. He belongs to the Gija house that was the junior house to the Mandlhakazi house, to which the warrior king Nghunghunyani belonged.
This is the house whose incumbent now is Eric Mpisane, who has been unsuccessful in its claim to the Nhlapo commission to be installed king of the Shangaan people. The community has pledged to challenge this in court.
Had it succeeded, Samuel Nxumalo would be the prime minister of the Gaza kingdom. The new leader is brimming with confidence and community members are believed to have opened their arms for him. “He is also a true leader as he has held several leadership positions as a student,” said Mkhacwa.
Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019. He currently writes on a freelance basis, covering human rights issues, court news and entertainment.
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