President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the late King of amaMpondo, Zanozuko Tyelovuyo Sigcau, as an exemplary traditional leader, who was passionate about developing his area.

The President said King Sigcau’s name shines in the pantheon of the traditional leaders of the country who fought gallantly against dispossession and exploitation, and fought for a better life for their people.

President Ramaphosa was delivering the eulogy at the funeral service of the late King of amaMpondo at Flagstaff in the Eastern Cape Province on Tuesday.

The President accorded the King a special official funeral Category 1. He was inaugurated as King of the amaMpondo nation in 2018.

The Statesman said that this was a sad and difficult day, a devastating loss for the family, the nation and the institution of traditional leadership.

“When we received the news of the illness of his Majesty King Zanozuko, we believed that he would recover and continue with his duties of leading our people. Sadly, this was not to be. He left us, in the prime of his life, when we were still expecting much from him,” he said.

The President emphasised that when His Majesty King Zanozuko Sigcau was confirmed a few years ago as the King of the AmaMpondo, that occasion heralded a new era for the Kingdom.

He said that it held the promise of peace, unity, development and cooperation among amaMpondo.

“Working with local government, civil society and his community, His Majesty immediately set about to implement development projects to advance the interests of our people in this place. He visited other Kings to discuss issues of unity and development of their people,” President Ramaphosa said.

When President Ramaphosa visited the area in November last year, he said that he met with His Majesty the King and other kings and traditional leaders and members of the communities.

The President met with the leadership of AmaMpondo ase Qawukeni and amaMpondo ase Nyandeni to discuss the need for effective consultation on all development programmes in these areas.

Speaking about his interactions with the late King, the President said that he had the privilege of discussing the Eastern Seaboard Development Initiative with the King.

“I was impressed and enriched by his vision of socio-economic development. He impressed me with his extensive analysis of the terrible conditions in which our people live in these parts of our country.

“He knew exactly what challenges exist in this area and the many opportunities and endowments we should use to improve people’s lives,” the President said.

The Eastern Seaboard Development Initiative proposes the establishment of a new coastal post-apartheid city covering parts of the Alfred Nzo, Harry Gwala, OR Tambo and Ugu District Municipalities.

The President said Kumkani Zanozuko appreciated the socio-economic impact of this initiative and how it could benefit the impoverished and underdeveloped AmaMpondo communities.

“He took it upon himself to champion the Eastern Seaboard Development Initiative and started engaging other affected Kingships urging their support. King Zanozuko was passionate about involving communities as investors in the initiative through land ownership.

“To His Majesty, local communities were the first investors in the initiative, whose views and interests should guide the process,” he said.

With the Eastern Cape being one of the provinces with high unemployment and poverty rates, the President said government counted on His Majesty’s visionary leadership in this and many other projects to transform the socio-economic conditions of his people.

He said the late King was among those monarchs who are determined that economic development should not be confined to the urban centres of the country.

“He was one of those leaders who championed the Invest Rural Master Plan, a flagship project promoted by the National House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders.

“His Majesty’s passing left many tasks unfinished and took from us a beacon of development, social norms and values. We are called upon to take forward his mission,” the President said.

The President further hailed His Majesty as a true father of the nation, who reviled the migrant labour system, where his people, particularly men, leave their families behind and move to far-away places to seek employment.

“His Majesty knew the reality that despite the importance of migrant remittances, they will always be inadequate to sustain livelihoods in his area. He knew that development has to be engendered from within, from local communities, so that it can be sustainable,” the President said.

The President further described the late His Majesty as a fervent champion of the fight against gender-based violence, organising imbizos, among other initiatives, to address this scourge.

He said that this is a fight that we all need to take up.

“In the same vein, we should also confront archaic practices such as ukuthwala, which violate young girls and deprive them of education and other essential opportunities to create a better future for themselves.

“Through such efforts, we can help to restore the sanctity and tranquillity of rural life, and enhance the social cohesion which His Majesty so passionately embraced,” he said.

In his memory, President Ramaphosa said that those who are left behind must continue with the development projects the King was involved in. He urged everyone to give full effect to the District Development Model.

Source: South African Government News Agency