Mandla Mandela’s chieftainship under pressure
Nelson Mandela’s grandson and Mvezo Chief Mandla Mandela’s
chieftainship has come under pressure following his conversion to Islam for his fourth marriage to a Muslim
woman.
Mandela married his fourth wife Rabia Clarke during a Muslim ceremony February 6.
The Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) said once Mandela converts to Islam, it will contradict the customs and traditions of the AbaThembu people.
Contralesa’s Xolile Ndevu said the decision to call on Mandela to step down rests with the community he leads.
“If he converts to Islam, it is the responsibility of the AbaThembu people from Mvezo to call him into their kraal and discuss it,” he says.
According to Ndevu, Contralesa does not have the authority to dictate who any chief should marry.
“We have not called on him to step down, but once he does convert to Islam, the AbaThembu people will not have a custodian,” Ndevu says.
Mandela married his first wife Tando Mabuna-Mandela in 2004.
His wed his second wife, French citizen Anais Grimaud, in March 2010. She changed her name to Nkosikazi Nobubele.
He married his third wife, Swazi princess Nodiyala Mbali Makhathini in 2011.
Edited by Sune du Toit