Media Statements
13 June 2026
LETTER OF CONDOLENCE FROM THE ROYAL FAMILY KA JAMANGILE KA MABANDLA
We, the Royal Family kaJamangile ka Mabandla, rise in solemn respect to mourn the passing of His Majesty, King Makhosonke Mabhena of AmaNdebele. His Majesty was more than a sovereign; he was a custodian of heritage, a pillar of unity, and a beacon of wisdom whose reign strengthened the dignity of his people. His voice carried the weight of tradition, yet his vision reached toward progress and harmony. We recall with reverence the day our delegation was received at his office. In that moment, we witnessed not only his gracious hospitality but also the depth of his leadership, a presence that affirmed kinship among nations and reminded us of the bonds that tie our peoples together. Today, as we stand in grief, we also stand in gratitude. His Majesty’s legacy will endure in the hearts of his people and in the memory of all who were touched by his leadership. His passing is a loss to the AmaNdebele nation, but also to the wider family of traditional leadership across Southern Africa. May the Almighty grant strength to the Royal Household, comfort to the AmaNdebele nation, and peace to all who mourn. His Majesty’s vision shall remain a guiding light for generations yet to come.
With deepest sympathy and respect,
INkosi Siyasanga Mabandla (Zwelothando)
Senior Traditional Leader
Langeni Traditional Council
DIPLOMATIC VISIT TO ORANIA
The royal family’s head of diplomatic services, Her Royal Highness, Princess Bhelekazi Mabandla, visits Orania.
Orania is an example of a community that has already achieved quite a few successes on the road to growing self-determination. The visit was of a diplomatic nature. In other words, an official visit of two people from two different communities (of two different peoples) to Orania as an Afrikaner community.
THE ROYAL OFFICE INVITED TO SPEAK AT A QUARTERLY SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT OPEN DISCUSSION EVENT.
Princess Bhelekazi,: Head of Royal Diplomatic Office works to establish partnerships with businesses, governments, financial institutions and other organisations for the pulling of investment to support the vision of iNkosi Zwelothandowhich is to establish a self-sufficient village that is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable focusing on agriculture and skills development as its core.
We believe the development will serve as a blueprint for consideration by other rural communities thus sparking progression amongst rural Southern Africa.
13 December 2022
THE LAUNCH OF THE JOINT INDIGENOUS VELD GOAT PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AFRIFORUM AND SOUTHERN AFRICAN AGRI INITIATIVE (SAAI).
On 13 December 2022. Nkosi Zwelothando Mabandla, the family farmer network the Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai) and AfriForum will be launching a joint indigenous veld goat agricultural development project.
iNkosi Zwelothando agreed on the concept of establishing an indigenous veld goat stud that in the end will result in a viable agricultural business.
This follows the exploratory visit of representatives of AfriForum and Saai to the region in June of this year that involved gathering information about local conditions and agricultural possibilities and consultations with various agricultural stakeholders.
Why Mbuzi Indigenous Goat:
The breed develop naturally towards functional efficiency.
The breed are a browser and grazer.
The breed are very fertile from a young age.
The breed are remarkable mother ability.
The breed are excellent herding instinct.
The breed are highly tick and parasite tolerant.
The LGL Indigenous Veld Goat Skilder Stud, a network partner of Saai, is involved as indigenous veld goat specialist and iNkosi Zwelothando will also affiliate with the Indigenous Veld Goat Breeders Society of South Africa.
02 March 2022
THE OFFICE OF INKOSI ZWELOTHANDO MABANDLA OF AMABHELE KAJAMANGILE AND AFRIFORUM SIGN THE COOPERATION AGREEMENT ON AGRICULTURE
On 02 March 2022, iNkosi Zwelothando Mabandla, a Senior Traditional Leader of amaBhele ka Jamangile in Elangeni Tratidional Council signed a mutual recognition and cooperation agreement with Afriforum in agricultural development.
The aim of the agreement is to establish and maintain a lasting relationship to promote economic, social and cultural development that may include the following:
- promotion of intercultural reconciliation and dialogue.
- cooperation in agricultural development.
- promotion of community self-sufficiency and self-management.
- preservation and safeguarding of cultural identity and heritage,
- promotion of mother tongue education
- protection of property rights
According to iNkosi Mabandla, the signing of this agreement is an important step towards developing a sustainable, empowered and prosperous community through the implementation of developmental projects that will benefit the community at large.
30 September 2021
THE VISIT OF THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS TO THE AMABHELE KAJAMANGILE ROYAL COMMUNITY
On 30 September 2021, The Kingdome of Netherlands’Dutch Agricultural Counsellor ; Mr Niek Bosman visited iNkosi Zwelothando Mabandla and the community of Elangeni Traditional Council.
The current global economic and financial crisis has a glaring effect on food security and poverty in our communities, it is for this reason that, iNkosi welcome opportunities that seek to promote community development in agriculture, education and health including infrastructural development.
12 March 2021
MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCES ON PASSING OF HIS MAJESTY KING GOODWILL ZWELITHINI KABHEKUZULU
It is with great sorrow that iNkosi Zwelothando kaMabandla sends his deepest condolences to the Royal House of kaBhekuzulu and the Zulu Nation on the passing of His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu.
AmaBhele share a historical closeness to amaZulu as our common ancestry dates back more than two centuries to the mountains of Lenge in KwaZulu-Natal. King Zwelithini as the longest reigning King of amaZulu served his people with great tenacity and poise.
The thoughts and prayers of the Royal House of Jamangile kaMabandla and amaBhele Nation are with the Royal Family and the Zulu Nation. May his soul rest in peace. Isilo Samabandla, Ingonyama yakwa Zulu. Bayethe!
Sincere Condolences
iNkosi Zwelothando Siyasanga Mabandla
16 January 2021
MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCES ON PASSING OF HIS MAJESTY KING VICTOR THULARE III
iNkosi Zwelothando and The Royal House of Jamangile ka Mabandla received with great sadness the news of the passing of His Royal Highness King Thulare III. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Royal family and the entire BaPedi nation as His Royal Highness is layed to rest on Sunday, 17 January 2021.
Ikhothame ngoxolo olunaphakade inkumkani. We pray that the gratitude for a life so nobly given in its service may bring the BaPedi nation some measure of consolation.
Sincere Condolences
iNkosi Zwelothando Siyasanga Mabandla
24 December 2020
Royal Christmas Message
It is with honour that I take this opportunity to convey a message of well wishes for the season Christmas of 2020. I send my warmest greetings to the entire nation of AmaBhele and indeed to our fellow country men and women of our beautiful country, South Africa.
The period of Goodwill is a moment to give thanks for the blessings that have come our way and everything that we have accomplished, so I would like to begin by thanking our Lord by giving me a great family such as yourselves.
The year of 2020 has been a challenging year in our communities, country and indeed the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged and disrupted our way of life. There are many of our friends and family who are spending this Christmas in hospitals, some lost loved ones due to COVID-19. Let us all show compassion to our fellow countrymen and women during this period of uncertainty. With the second wave of COVID-19 upon us, our fight against this invisible enemy still continues and calls on all of us to be courageous and steadfast in our fight agaist COVID-19.
The year 2020 saw the Royal House of Jamangile kaMabandla launch our official website on 5 December 2020. the website connects all of us wherever we are, though physically we may be apart.
The Royal House of Jamangile kaMabandla wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosporous, peaceful and healthy New Year. Therefore, I urge everyone to adhere to regulations in place to assist in combating COVID-19 as communicated by our State President. Thus let us not forget to wash our hands regularly, wear our masks at all times and maintain our social distance.
May God protect the Republic of South Africa, its people and the entire nation of AmaBhele.
Thankfully Yours
iNkosi Zwelothando Siyasanga Mabandla
14 December 2020
MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCES ON PASSING OF QUEEN MOTHER
Your Majesty,
INkosi Zwelothando Mabandla and the Royal Family of Jamangile ka Mabandla wishes to express their heartfelt sympathy to the Molotlegi family and the entire Royal Bafokeng Nation for the passing of the Queen Mother, Dr Semane Bonolo Molotlegi.
The Royal Family ka Jamangile ka Mabandla will keep the Molotlegi family in our prayers. We hope the Bafokeng Nation finds strength and be consoled by the life so nobly lived in its service.
Sincere Condolences
iNkosi Zwelothando Siyasanga Mabandla
3 December 2020
International Day for the Disabled
This vulnerable sector of our society does not receive adequate attention still; both in terms of education provisioning and work opportunities. One finds very few facilities that cater for people with disabilities in provinces like the Eastern Cape for example.
Government needs to take up the slack on this aspect of our lives. Traditional community leaders must also be seized with the poor treatment out to these vulnerable people where one sometimes finds some families even exploiting them in spite of the grants Government gives them. They are uncared for, they are left dirty yet there is something from the State meant to alleviate their plight.
Such dates as this one help us to refocus our attention to them or being reminded of our responsibility lest we forget that they also have needs.
1 December 2020
World’s Aids Day
Advocacy that happens on this day every year has almost faded away in some parts of the country especially in rural communities. This is either because when ARVs became accepted and no longer carrying the stigma it used to have, people who take them have their health improved and the challenge is that it is likely to be overtaken this year by more urgent emergency of the covid19 pandemic. Yet when one sees the statistics HIV/Aids is still a monster that we should not undermine.
As traditional community leaders we are called upon not to reduce our vigilance against it as it still affects our people. We therefore call upon health activists not to let up and plan to profile this day as advocacy is still needed. We call upon faith based organizations in our communities to keep on keeping on with holding advocacy events in our communities. We must continue to support people living with and affected by HIV/Aids.