Preparations are in place for the special official funeral of the late AmaXhosa king Zwelonke Sigcawu at Nqadu Great Place in Willowvale in the Eastern Cape on Friday morning.

1. King Mpendulo Zwelonke Sigcawu
Aah Zwelonke!
SPECIAL OFFICIAL FUNERAL
SERVICE FOR HIS MAJESTY
Friday, 29 November 2019
4 April 1968 – 14 November 2019

2. Obituary of His Majesty
King Mpendulo Zwelonke Sigcawu
Aah Zwelonke!
His Majesty King Mpendulo Zwelonke Sigcawu (Aah Zwelonke!) was born on 4 April 1968
at Nqadu Royal Palace in KuGatyane in the Eastern Cape. He was the eldest son of King
Xolilizwe Mzikayise Sigcawu (Aah Xolilizwe!) and his biological mother, Queen Nozamile
Sigcawu. He was adopted according to custom to be the heir and the eldest son of Queen
Nondwe Sigcawu (Queen Mother of amaXhosa) of the Great House.
King Zwelonke received his primary and secondary school education in Cofimvaba, where
he grew up under the hand of Nkosi Jongintaba Ngubo. He furthered his education at Arthur
Mfebe Senior Secondary School and Freemantle Boys High School respectively. He also
studied at the Jongilizwe College in Tsolo, an academy that used to prepare future traditional
leaders and heritage practitioners for their envisaged roles and responsibilities in preserving,
protecting and promoting the institution of traditional leadership.
When he came of age, he passed through the Xhosa rite of passage from boyhood to
manhood and after graduating, he was conferred with a salutation name of Zwelenkosi, which
was later changed to Zwelonke after his coronation as King of amaXhosa.
In his early 30s he was anointed as a Senior Traditional Leader of Ibhotwe Traditional Council
at Nqadu Royal Palace, where he chaired the meetings of the Council and also presided over
Traditional Court cases. It is here where he displayed his talents and skills as an efficient and
meticulous leader.
In 2006 King Zwelonke ascended to the throne after the passing on of his legendary father
the previous year. Following a customary ceremony, he was anointed as the rightful heir and
successor to King Xolilizwe.
King Zwelonke was an outspoken and fearless figure, and yet very constructive in his
approach. He was committed to championing rural economic development, and women
and youth empowerment. His Majesty believed in engaging directly with communities and
leadership visibility was one of his positive principles which showed his utmost passion for the
improvement of the lives of his people. King Zwelonke saw himself as a servant of his people
and indeed lived among them.

3. He invested his personal resources in sport development, including hosting annual soccer
and netball tournaments. He was also passionate about athletics and traditional horse racing.
During his reign as King of amaXhosa, he conferred the King Hintsa Bravery Award on a
number of politicians and prominent people. He was an active member of the Congress of
Traditional Leaders of South Africa.
King Zwelonke is the first King to be officially crowned in post-apartheid South Africa. His
coronation was held on 15 May 2015, the year that also marked the 180th anniversary of the
passing on of King Hintsa (Aah Zanzolo!).
King Zwelonke leaves an impeccable legacy of promoting education, cultural heritage,
agriculture, tourism, the ocean economy, rural development, civil society and rebuilding the
unity of amaXhosa.
King Zwelonke Sigcawu is survived by his biological mother, wives, uncles, aunts, siblings
and children.
Lala ngoxolo Nkonyana Yohlanga!
Aah Zwelonke!

4. Programme
SPECIAL OFFICIAL FUNERAL SERVICE
FOR HIS MAJESTY KING MPENDULO
ZWELONKE SIGCAWU
King of amaXhosa
4 April 1968 – 14 November 2019
FRIDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2019
PART ONE
Family Valedictory Service at home
Nqadu Royal Palace
KuGatyane
Eastern Cape
05:00 Family Prayer and Royal last rites
07:30 Cortège departs for funeral service venue
PART TWO
Funeral Service
Programme directors:
Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Mr Zolani Mkiva
08:00 National Anthem: SANDF Band
08:05 Opening prayer by Chaplain-General:
Brig-Gen Monwabisi Jamangile
08:20 Welcoming remarks on behalf of the Royal House:
Nkosi Daliwonga Mgwebi

5. 08:30 Reading of obituary: Voiceover in isiXhosa
08:40 History of the Xhosa Kingdom: Dr Somadoda Fikeni
08:50 Tribute on behalf of the House of Rharhabe by:
Prince Burns Ncamashe
09:00 Musical item
09:10 Tribute by a Community Elder:
Former President Thabo Mbeki
09:25 Tribute on behalf of abaThembu Royal House:
Nkosi Ngangomhlaba Matanzima
09:35 Tribute by Representative of the Xhosa Royal House:
Nkosi Ngubelizwe Sigcawu
09:40 Tribute on behalf of the Kingdom of Lesotho:
Morena Seeiso Masupha
09:50 Tribute on behalf of amaNdebele Kingdom:
King Makhosonke Mabena II
10:00 Musical item
10:10 Eulogy by His Excellency Mr Cyril Ramaphosa,
President of the Republic of South Africa
10:50 Sermon by Chaplain-General Jamangile
Benediction
SANDF Ceremonial
11:00 Cortège departs for the cemetery
PART THREE
At the cemetery
11:10 Immediate family and President Ramaphosa seated
11:20 Removal of the National Flag from the coffin by the SANDF
and handing over to the family
Last Post and Reveille sounded
SANDF bearers and Ceremonial Guard of Honour withdraw
11:40 Vote of thanks: Nkosi Ngwenyathi Dumalisile and
Nkosi Bambilizwe Sigcawu

6. Pall-bearers
Home to hearse: SANDF
Hearse to funeral service venue: SANDF
Funeral service venue to hearse: SANDF
Hearse to cemetery: SANDF
Chaplain-General
Brig-Gen Jamangile
Pall-bearers
Brig-Gen NA Ndou (SA Army)
Brig-Gen MS Mketo (SA Army)
Brig-Gen MM Kweta (SA Army)
Brig-Gen MM Matanda (SA Army)
Rear Admiral (JG) Z Kani (SA Navy)
Rear Admiral (JG) S Makhanya (SA Navy)
Brig-Gen MV Luke (SAMHS)
Brig-Gen BC Bruiners (SAMHS)
Bearers
MWO CH Coetzee (SA Army)
MWO MV Mazitshana (SA Army)
MWO MZ Mocoancoeng (SAAF)
MWO LJ Jonas (SAAF)
MWO TP Morema (SA Army)
MWO MS Kunene (SA Army)
MWO S Alexander (SAMHS)
MWO ZS Jini (SAMHS)
Warrant Officer in Charge
CWO RJ Belelie (SA Army)

8. National Anthem
Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo,
Yizwa imithandazo yethu,
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.
Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso,
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho,
O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso,
Setjhaba sa South Afrika - South Afrika.
Uit die blou van onse hemel,
Uit die diepte van ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes,
Waar die kranse antwoord gee.
Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.