The principal of Mnganiwakhe High School, in uMgababa, on the South Coast, Nompumelelo Mkhize, accepting some of the donated gifts from the late traditionl leader of uMnini Traditional Authority, Inkosi Phathisizwe Luthuli's heir Mazwi Luthuli.
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The son of the recently departed traditional leader of the uMnini Traditional Authority has broken his silence regarding the brewing succession battle for the South Coast throne.
Mazwi Luthuli, the son of the late Inkosi Phathisizwe Luthuli, delivered a firm message to those questioning the future of the eMathulini leadership: there is no room for confusion because an Inkosi is born, not appointed.
Luthuli was speaking at a community event in uMgababa, where schoolchildren from 20 local schools received new uniforms. The event served as both a charitable gesture and a symbolic assertion of his role as his father’s successor; a title first announced on the day of the late Inkosi’s interment.
"People should not be confused," Luthuli said.
"There is only one Inkosi of eMathulini; he exists, and he was born to this."
The clarity comes at a time of reported tension. Msawakhe Luthuli, the late Inkosi’s uncle, has reportedly entered the fray, while the name of Busani Luthuli, the late leader's brother and treasurer of the traditional council, has also been linked to the seat.
Despite the pressure, Mazwi expressed a preference for restraint.m
"I don’t like discussing this right now because we are still in mourning," he said, adding that all lingering doubts would be cleared once the formal mourning period concludes.
Continuing a Legacy of Education
Inkosi Phathisizwe was widely extolled for his devotion to the schools under the uMnini Traditional Authority.
Mazwi vowed that this passion would remain the cornerstone of his leadership."My father would do anything when it came to education," Luthuli said.
"That’s why I thought it befitting to honor his legacy by ensuring these children have what they need to succeed."
Local principals described the donation as a lifeline for learners from needy households. The area’s Induna, Lungisani Makhathini, echoed Mazwi’s sentiments, confirming the clan’s recognition of only one heir.
"Because we are respectful, we will wait for the 90-day mourning period to end," Makhathini said.
He urged the uMnini community to stand behind Mazwi just as they did his father and expressed total confidence that the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) would soon formalise Luthuli’s succession.
Brief History of the Luthulis
Inkosi Phathisizwe Luthuli died in hospital after collapsing at his home in uMgababa. His traditional authority spanned from oNgumnini (the original name of uMnini) to the uMkhomazi River mouth.
The Luthuli clan was originally settled in eSibubulungu, now known as the Bluff, near Durban harbour. In 1858, the British Crown granted them land, prompting their relocation to uMgababa to support the development and expansion of the harbour. Many members of the clan and their subjects were historically clay artists and fishermen.