Royal Houses and Palaces

Nongoma has three Traditional Authorities, with uSuthu having the highest throne of all Zulu tribes as per the legacy of the Great Emperor, King Shaka kaSenzangakhona, who assembled many tribes and nations under great kingdom of the Zulu nation, iSilo Samabandla Onke. The second is the Mandlakazi Traditional Authority which comes from indlu yaseKhohlwa kaJama which was headed by Mntwana Sojiyisa kaJama. The third one is Matheni Traditional Authority, this one comes from uMnawenkosi uCetsheyawo headed by uMntwana Ziwedu kaMpande. There was a fourth traditional authority under the leadership of the Ntombela’s in Dabhazi area, this chieftaincy was discontinued in agreement with the late king Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu. 

uSuthu

This throne has a total of seven palaces, and six of them are located in Nongoma. The palaces located in Nongoma are: Khethomthandayo, Khangelamankengane, Dlamahlahla, Enyokeni, oSuthu and Linduzulu. The throne has been headed by his Majesty King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu for more that 40 years as he recently bowed out in 2021, leaving the throne to the Queen Mntanenkosi kaSobhuza Dlamini as a regent who then appointed her son, Prince Misuzulu who is the current king of the entire Zulu nation, currently ruling from his father’s palace kwaKhangela.

Access to all oSuthu Royal palaces is only by invite for now.

uMandlakazi

Mandlakazi Tribal Authority is under the Chief Bhekintitha kaPhumanyova which owns the biggest land territory in Nongoma district, as it was given to Maphitha kaSojiyisa for his great contribution and that of his father, uMntwana Sojiyisa kaJama, in leading the army that fought against Zwide of the Ndwandwe tribe. The Mandlakazi royal palace is called eBanganoma, its on the route Nongoma and Mkuze, Banfanoma is around 35KM from Nongoma town. The current chief is Bhekintinta son of Phumanyova of Bhokwe of Zibhebhu who received the certificate of chieftaincy when the Zulu kingdom was defeated by The British Empire in 1879. Access to kwaMandlakazi Royal Palace can be requested and there is a big and informative monument dedicated to uMntwana Inkosi uZibhebhu kaMaphitha presenting his history and family tree showing his 38 queens and children.

eMatheni

EMatheni Royal house, is under the leadership of iNkosi P.T. Zulu (regent) who took the throne after the passing of the King, uMntwana uSibusiso KaNsikayezwe Zulu. This royal house descends from King Mpande kaSenzangakhona. King Mpande gave his son Mntwana uZiwedu the Mabuthweni homestead in the place called eZimfabeni. It was after his contributions in fighting for uSuthu in its wars against Mandlakazi that he moved to build his homestead in kwaDenge area which was then named eMatheni.

The throne of this house has been occupied the following chiefs; Prince Ziwedu, Prince Mpikanina, Prince Mziyaqokwa, Prince Nsikayezwe then Prince Sibusiso. After the passing of king Sibusizo kaNsikayezwe then His wife Queen referred to as uNdlunkulu P.T. Butale Zulu took over as the regent of this royal house and tribal authority.
EMatheni Royal Palace is NOT open to public visits for now.

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