Keynote address by His Excellency, Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile, on the occasion of the commemoration of 191 years since the assassination of Kumkani Hintsa ka-Khawuta, Butterworth College, Gcuwa, Mnquma LM, Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province
Programme Directors; MEC Sibulele Ngongo and Mr Zolani Mkiva;
His Majesty, our host Kumkani Ahlangene Sigcawu, Ah Vulikhaya!
Eastern Cape Premier, Mr Oscar Mabuyane and Members of the Executive Council;
Gauteng Premier, Mr Panyaza Lesufi;
Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Mr Mzwanele Nyhontso;
Deputy Minister of Defence & Military Veterans, General Bantu Holomisa;
Deputy Minister of COGTA, Prince Rev. Zolile Burns – Ncamashe;
His Majesties Kumkani Vululwandle Sandile of AmaRharhabe, Kumkani Dalimvula Matanzima of AbaThembu, Kumkani Ndlovuyezwe Ndamase of AmaMpondo aseNyandeni;
Members of Parliament and the Provincial Legislatures in our midst;
Executive Mayors of Amathole District, Mnquma LM, Mbhashe LM, and other municipalities;
Senior Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders who have graced this ceremony;
Xhosa Royal Kingdom family members, relatives, and loved ones gathered here today.
King Hintsa District Methodist Church, Bishop Rev. Nompithizelo Sibidla;
IYunivesithi Walter Sisulu Vice Chancellor, Dr. Thandi Mgwebi;
Academics, Professionals and Senior Government officials;
Greetings to the people of the Eastern Cape, the Home of Legends, and fellow South Africans.
Your Majesty, King Ahlangene Sigcawu, I feel deeply honoured and grateful for your invitation to this gathering. I recognise it as a significant acknowledgment within our dual governance system, where Traditional Leadership and modern democracy support each other for the benefit of our people.
What is significant about this gathering is its sacred nature, emphasising collective remembrance and the acknowledgment of a king whose influence remains eternal.
The year 2026 marks the 191st anniversary of Kumkani Hintsa kaKhawuta's assassination by British colonial forces on May 12, 1835, at the Nqabarha River. Kumkani Hintsa was a pivotal figure in the defense of his ancestral land against colonial encroachment.
Commemorating this anniversary is significant as it honours his legacy as a unifier and courageous leader who sacrificed his life to protect amaXhosa sovereignty and land from colonial expansion.
Furthermore, the 191st anniversary commemoration of Kumkani Hintsa holds deep significance as it honours a pivotal figure in the struggle against colonialism, aligning with the overall objectives of Africa Month.
Africa Month is a celebration of African identity, culture, and unity, and by centering on Kumkani Hintsa, the event reinforces the collective consciousness and shared history of resistance among Africans.
The celebration aligns with the African Union’s (AU) agenda, which highlights the role of traditional leaders in the fight for independence. It positions Kumkani Hintsa alongside other iconic African leaders who fought against oppression, such as Cetshwayo and Moshoeshoe.
Celebrating Traditional Leaders and warriors who passed away during the Eastern Cape Frontier Wars (1779–1879) is essential for reclaiming Indigenous history, fostering national identity, and acknowledging the profound sacrifices made in defense of land and sovereignty.
These wars of dispossession, lasting a century between the Xhosa Kingdom and colonial forces, represent the longest military resistance against European colonialism in Africa.
In commemoration, a memorial was unveiled this morning near the N2 road, honouring Kumkani Hintsa for his significant role in defending his ancestral land and achieving freedom and democracy.
His epitaph reflects his qualities of selflessness, courage, and devotion to his people, emphasising that his life and death were focused on upholding the dignity, land, and future of the Xhosa nation rather than personal gain or glory.
Erecting memorials for local heroes is crucial in reshaping the post-apartheid landscape, fostering national reconciliation, and reclaiming history for the marginalised.
These memorials serve to honour those lost in conflict, enhance social cohesion, and fulfil educational roles, ultimately contributing to a shared identity among diverse communities.
The commemoration highlights several key aspects:
- Honouring Resistance and Restoring Dignity: It celebrates the bravery of leaders like Kumkani Hintsa, who united African cultural groups against British colonialism, and honours the fallen in the Eastern Cape Wars of Resistance, contributing to heritage tourism.
- Correcting Historical Narratives and Decolonising Education: It promotes a counter-narrative that emphasises indigenous resilience and corrects the omissions of these battles from colonial histories.
- Cultural and Political Significance: This event fosters cultural continuity among the Xhosa people, promotes unity and nation-building, and emphasises land consciousness related to land restoration efforts.
Compatriots,
This event held here in Gcuwa, the former site of Kumkani Hintsa’s palace, celebrates the heritage of the AmaRharhabe Kingdom. Its primary goal is to preserve the oral history and memories surrounding the Sixth War of Resistance (1834–1815).
Notably, the event's location is significant, as it is adjacent to the land once occupied by Kumkani Hintsa’s kraal.
In his lifetime, Kumkani Hintsa demonstrated unparalleled bravery in resisting colonial domination, becoming a symbol of Africa’s resilience. His martyrdom elevated his status as a king and represented the unbroken spirit of his people. Hintsa’s fight for human dignity and heritage amidst colonial oppression underscored the value of his people and the continuity of their heritage.
The Xhosa Kingdom, under Hintsa and his successors, evolved through trials and triumphs. From the leadership of King Sarhili, who carried forward Hintsa’s vision, to the resilience of the amaXhosa people during the cattle-killing tragedy of 1856, the kingdom endured immense suffering yet remained steadfast in its identity.
The lineage of leadership from Hintsa to Sigcawu represents a profound narrative marked by continuity, resilience, and renewal. This historical trajectory reflects not only the inheritance of cultural and political authority but also the adaptation and strengthening of leadership ideals through generational transitions.
Each leader in this lineage has contributed to the development of shared values and governance practices, underscoring the significance of their roles in maintaining social cohesion and adapting to changing circumstances while honouring ancestral legacies.
Therefore, this inaugural King Hintsa Annual Commemoration marks the beginning of a living tradition: an annual remembrance that binds us to our heritage, recalls our struggles, and renews our destiny. We affirm that Traditional Leadership is a living pillar of our democracy, a voice of wisdom that stands alongside modern institutions, guiding us toward unity and shared prosperity.
Honouring our heritage affirms that progress involves integrating tradition rather than discarding it. Heritage provides a moral compass for democracy, fostering dignified and inclusive development. Progress without heritage risks being rootless, while heritage alone can lead to stagnation. Together, they are essential for a resilient and accountable democracy.
It is within this balance that traditional leadership finds its rightful place in contemporary South Africa. Our democracy thrives on the principle of continuity, integrating the wisdom of traditional leaders, kings, and chiefs, into the framework of modern governance.
These leaders serve as vital links between our ancestral heritage and contemporary democratic practices. They emphasise that true progress is anchored in cultural identity, urging the importance of renewing heritage rather than discarding it.
As Traditional Leaders, you remain the custodians of communal land, the mediators of disputes, and the guardians of cultural practices that root our people in identity and continuity.
In rural areas, you bridge the gap between state institutions and local communities. Your voices, similar to that of Kumkani Hintsa, guide us in the preservation of culture and renewal of dignity. Most importantly, your role is not confined to heritage alone. It should expand into socio-economic development, youth empowerment, and gender equality.
As leaders of our people, mostly in rural areas, you stand at the forefront of rural renewal, advocating for investment in agriculture, infrastructure, and education.
Kumkani, Ah Vulikhaya, as Government, we acknowledge the challenges you face, such as urbanisation that reduce your reach, disputes of succession that test legitimacy, and the delicate balance of customary authority with constitutional rights. We have taken deliberate steps to restore the dignity and recognition of traditional leadership.
Platforms such as the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, as well as Provincial and Local Houses, ensure that traditional leaders participate in shaping policies that affect rural communities.
It is through these structures that traditional leaders have consistently raised critical issues, including land rights, socio-economic development, institutional capacity, infrastructure support, policy reforms, and social cohesion.
These challenges do not diminish traditional leaders’ relevance. They call us instead to strengthen collaboration between Traditional Councils and Municipalities, to ensure that service delivery is not delayed, and to ensure that the dignity of our people is not denied.
Together, as Government and Traditional Leaders, we must establish a covenant of renewal intertwining heritage and progress, ensuring that land is managed with transparency, that communities are empowered with opportunity, and that governance is measured not by privilege but by service.
As we stand before the Kumkani Hintsa Memorial, let us also stand before the living mantle of Traditional Leadership.
Let us affirm that their wisdom is not behind us, but beside us.
Let us carry their heritage into our progress, and their spirit into our destiny.
We gather here with a clear and urgent task before us: to advance land rights and socio-economic development, to strengthen traditional institutions, to invest in infrastructure and skills, to promote nation-building and unity, and to finalise the policy and legislative reforms that our people have long awaited.
We must confront the pressing social challenges that weigh heavily on our communities.
We cannot ignore the cry of our people when municipalities falter. When taps run dry, when roads remain broken, and when housing projects stall, these are not mere service delivery failures. They are violations of human dignity.
King Hintsa's life teaches that genuine leadership is defined by selfless service to the community, rather than privilege or corruption.
In his honour, we should unite to restore integrity in governance and address the people's needs.
Programme Director, this commemoration is also a platform to make a clarion call to contain attacks against foreign African nationals. We understand that some illegal foreign nationals are accused of criminal activities, but law enforcement has a duty to attend to those unfortunate incidents.
This platform is a major event intended for unity and cultural pride, and we must plant a seed of love and unity among Africans.
To combat attacks on foreign nationals, we must fight together as government, traditional authorities, community and faith-based organisations, civil society and migrant communities to condemn acts of violence. This will go a long way towards promoting unity, reconciliation, and social cohesion.
Before I conclude I wish to announce that we have agreed with Minister Nyhontso and Deputy Minister Burns-Ncamshe that Government will donate two track tours as part of supporting rural development initiatives led by the His Majesty King Ahlangene Sigcawu. Ah Vulikhaya!
Manene Nama Nenekazi,
In commemorating Hintsa, we are called not only to remember but also to act. His sun never sets, his spirit never dies, and his legacy demands that we confront today’s challenges with the same courage he showed in the face of a despotic colonial empire.
May this anniversary be a turning point from remembrance to renewal, from heritage to hope, from sacrifice to service.
Aah Vulikhaya!
Aah Zanzolo!
Ndiyabulela!
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