ABATHEMBU King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo says if a divorce is not carried out according to custom, the marriage is still recognised by the families.
The controversial king was speaking about the divorce between Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Nelson Mandela. Dalindyebo has come out in support of Madikizela-Mandela's court bid for the Qunu property.
Madikizela-Mandela says the property belongs to her as it was acquired while she was still married to Mandela.
In an interview with the media at Bumbane Great Place, Dalindyebo said: "For anyone to undo the customary marriage, they must bring the families together, and the families should speak about the dissolution of the marriage and the dissolution of the [woman's] status [in the family] and perhaps the return of the lobolo. Then the customary marriage will be [officially] dissolved."
Dalindyebo said if these were not done - including the undoing of the tsiki ritual - the marriage will forever be recognised by the families.
The tsiki ritual is done when a woman is officially welcomed into her husband's household. The family dresses her in a black doek and a scarf around her waist. Elderly women in the family pour a goat's or sheep's bile on her head and give her a new name.
He said Madikizela-Mandela had not "touched" the great home where Mandela's mother Nosekeni used to live as this belonged to Mandela's first wife Evelyn and her children.
"The great home has not been tampered with by [Madikizela-Mandela], it still remains the property of [Evelyn]. We would expect Makhulu Graça to have her own kraal site. I believe as the family or nation we will have that solved in due course."
Former Transkei dictator and AmaDlomo family elder KD Matanzima had tried to broker peace between Mandela and Madikizela-Mandela before their divorce. In an affidavit submitted to the Witwatersrand Supreme Court on March 16 1996, Matanzima wrote that it had only come to his attention that they were getting divorced two days before the matter was set before court.
"In terms of Thembu tradition and customary law, senior members of the house must be given an opportunity to intervene for mediation purposes. During occasions when there were differences and possibilities of a divorce between [King] Sabata Dalindyebo and his wife, I intervened successfully between the parties and averted a divorce. Also at the time [when] there were differences between Paramount Chief Bambilanga Mtirara and his wife, I intervened successfully," he wrote.
He added that when certain members of the family of a "less senior position" approached Madikizela-Mandela and Mandela for mediation, Mandela had refused to see them or "treated them with little respect".
He had also submitted to the court that the divorce proceedings be postponed in order for him to mediate between the two parties. It is not clear whether the court granted Matanzima's request.
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
'Qunu property belongs to Winnie' - king Dalindyebo supports court action
ABATHEMBU King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo says if a divorce is not carried out according to custom, the marriage is still recognised by the families.
The controversial king was speaking about the divorce between Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Nelson Mandela. Dalindyebo has come out in support of Madikizela-Mandela's court bid for the Qunu property.
Madikizela-Mandela says the property belongs to her as it was acquired while she was still married to Mandela.
In an interview with the media at Bumbane Great Place, Dalindyebo said: "For anyone to undo the customary marriage, they must bring the families together, and the families should speak about the dissolution of the marriage and the dissolution of the [woman's] status [in the family] and perhaps the return of the lobolo. Then the customary marriage will be [officially] dissolved."
Dalindyebo said if these were not done - including the undoing of the tsiki ritual - the marriage will forever be recognised by the families.
The tsiki ritual is done when a woman is officially welcomed into her husband's household. The family dresses her in a black doek and a scarf around her waist. Elderly women in the family pour a goat's or sheep's bile on her head and give her a new name.
He said Madikizela-Mandela had not "touched" the great home where Mandela's mother Nosekeni used to live as this belonged to Mandela's first wife Evelyn and her children.
"The great home has not been tampered with by [Madikizela-Mandela], it still remains the property of [Evelyn]. We would expect Makhulu Graça to have her own kraal site. I believe as the family or nation we will have that solved in due course."
Former Transkei dictator and AmaDlomo family elder KD Matanzima had tried to broker peace between Mandela and Madikizela-Mandela before their divorce. In an affidavit submitted to the Witwatersrand Supreme Court on March 16 1996, Matanzima wrote that it had only come to his attention that they were getting divorced two days before the matter was set before court.
"In terms of Thembu tradition and customary law, senior members of the house must be given an opportunity to intervene for mediation purposes. During occasions when there were differences and possibilities of a divorce between [King] Sabata Dalindyebo and his wife, I intervened successfully between the parties and averted a divorce. Also at the time [when] there were differences between Paramount Chief Bambilanga Mtirara and his wife, I intervened successfully," he wrote.
He added that when certain members of the family of a "less senior position" approached Madikizela-Mandela and Mandela for mediation, Mandela had refused to see them or "treated them with little respect".
He had also submitted to the court that the divorce proceedings be postponed in order for him to mediate between the two parties. It is not clear whether the court granted Matanzima's request.
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
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