Mandla Mandela, the grandson of former president Nelson Mandela was set to to be installed as a traditional leader of the Thembu people. Mt Mandla turned down the offer in order to concentrate more on combating apartheid.

Its said that Mandla Mandela was to be formally appointed chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council by Thembu King Zwelibanzi Buyelekhaya Dalinyebo at a grand ceremony in the Eastern Cape province.

The Thembu people are part of the Xhosa nation. The functions of the Mvezo chief are often described as being akin to that of Thembu prime minister. Mandela’s father, Henry, was the last man in the Mandela clan to occupy the role of Mvezo chief before being deposed 87 years ago by a magistrate for insubordination.

Nelson Mandela later renounced his claim to the chieftainship in order to pursue a career as a lawyer in Johannesburg and continue his political activities. Mandla Mandela, 32, is a graduate in political science from Rhodes University in Grahamstown.

Source: M&C

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