South Africa has experienced many Monarch leaderships in the past years. Among the kings who have to lead them are powerful ones who gain the throne through hereditary.
Most of these kings lived a life worth emulating, although history has it that some powerful Kings died mysteriously by involving themselves in conflict or exile.
Below are the powerful top kings who have ruled South Africa
1. King Zwelonke Singcawu
King Zwelonke Sigcawu is in charge of the Eastern Cape; he was the 20th king of the Xhosa Monarchy.
This king is the son of late Xhosa king Xolilizwe Sigcawu, who died in 2004, then Zwelonke began ruling in 2005.
As the king of the Xhosa kingdom, Zwelonke was in charge of the highest court in the Xhosa Kingdom. He was the supreme head in charge of strengthening their nation and appointing the senior leaders within his authority.
King Zwelonke was 51 years old when he died. When he was alive, he lived with his people in the rural Eastern Cape and never decided to own any private property of his own in any town. He was just humble and full of positive vibes.
He so much participates in community activities and cultural gatherings while practicing a policy of visible leadership.
The noble King was a committed member of the congress of traditional leaders of South Africa; he participated in all fields, starting from the top to the lowest level.
King Zwelonke was more interested in rural development during his time, which led to hip calling upon the government to tar up their rural road. To him, infrastructural development will fascinate investment.
His people loved him, and the entire members of the Xhosa Kingdom felt his absence when he was no more.
2. King Goodwill Zwelithini
King Goodwill was a South African traditional leader who replaced King Cyprian Bhekuzulu Ka Solomon.
He began reigning on September 17th, 1968, and stopped on March 12th, 2021.
He was 72 years when he died. When the King was alive, he was a staunch advocate of preserving cultural identity and facilitating unity among the Amazulu people.
He was a much-loved visionary by the president of South Africa. Zwelithini, the king, was someone who didn’t mince words, and that was why it was difficult for him to govern the African national congress, and they were accusing him of mishandling the country.
This vibrant King in 2015 declared that it was high time the emigrants returned as what inspired the fight against the emigrant then during his province.
King Goodwill succeeded the throne when he was 20 years old around 1968, but he was not crowned immediately for security purposes and later became the crown king in 1971 after some threats by some people.
Although King Goodwill was a ceremonial King, he was highly influential and reigned as King of the Zuru nation for 50 years. He married six wives and had 28 children.
This King was very influential as he was one of the most famous Kings in the country. He singles handily ruled the 11 million.
Strong Zulu nation of South Africa’s population, but he also has a family link with countries around him.
The notable King took his cultural influence to other known places as he has traveled to many western countries to promote trade and tourism for his home duty in Kwa Zulu-Natal.
3. King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo
King Buyelekhaya was a King to the Aba Thembu in South Africa; he was born on April 5th, 1964.
He ascended to the throne in 1989. As of them, he had about 700,000 subjects. The King’s establishment as the ruler left the Aba Thembu people in great appreciation. Currently, he is 56 years.
In 2005, his people charged their King for a murder case, defeating the end of justice, fraud, arson, and sentenced him to 12 years regarding his 2009 conviction.
After he was released, King Dalindyebo went back and focused on building his leadership endeavors. He was even recruited in 2013 by the DA, and Le got the opportunity to work with Helen, Mmusi, and others.
Unfortunately for him, some Thembu Chief requested that the then-president, “Jacob Zuma,” should remove him.
They claimed that the King was not worthy to rule the people; they classified him as an evil king.
In 2015 the king Buyelechaya was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. Due to this reason, the DA terminated his membership.
The president removed his Kingship and this salary asking, which made his family leave the place.
On December 23rd, 2019, following President Cyril Ramaphosas Day of Reconciliation speech commemorated, they announced the king’s release. He stared one-quarter of his 12 years imprisonment before they forgave him.
The dethronement of the King affects him, which leads to his arrest again on the charges of assault.
4. King Mahosonke Eonch Mabena
King Maphosonke is also a powerful king in South Africa, marked the legitimate King of Ndebele in 2010.
This King has his offices in Kwamhlanga. He was a great King who won the dispute that arose as a result of the next King of Ama Ndebele Kingdom.
This tussle and fight lasted for 32 years until the court came to their rescue and declared that King Makhosonke Mabena 11 was the only King of Ama Ndebele.
Mahlangu, who was the opponent of Makhosonke, was dethroned and was made the second King in Mpumalanga, and it reduced his perks, although he had a car-like Makhosonke.
The Nhlapo Commission established that the Ama Ndebere Kingship would dwell with King Makhosonke Mabena11. After this, the Commission concluded that South Africa would be structured only to have Seven Kings.
5. King Toni Mphephu Ramabulana
He is also a mighty King in South Africa; he emerged as a King after many conflicts that arose when his father, who was the King, died.
The Mphephu Ramabulana Royal family decides to end the Vha-Venda Kingship.
They thereby call upon the supreme court of appeals from Supreme Court. The court instructed the house of traditional leaders to revisit the matter before taking a concrete decision.
Masindi later gave up on the kingship issue, and Toni Mphephu Ramabulana has later grown the king of Vha-Venda.
King Toni Mphephu Ramabulana ruled for only three years before he died in 1997, and in January 1998, Toni Mphephu Ramabulana was, identified to take over the chieftaincy by the royal council.
Toni Mphephu Ramabulana was still seen as the king of the Vha-Venda nation till September 2012 and was even issued a certificate.
6. King Zanozuko Tyelovuyo Sigcau
The King is in charge of the Ama Mpon do in the taster cape. He was mighty after the death of King Madlonke in 1937. According to the country’s supreme court, Zanozuko would be the one to occupy the throne.
King Zanozuko started ruling officially in 2010 after the former president recognized him as a king. His inauguration took place in April 2011 at the Nuzindlovu great place.
Although there was a crisis surrounding his leadership, the overthrown king Mpondombini took the matter to court after King Zanozuko’s inauguration. There then was a severe battle on who will rule the Amampondo. Still, they spitted things and the motorway along the line, but Mpondombini did not accept any of the suggestions, although he died before king Zanozuko started ruling.
7. King Thuluare Victor
King Thulare is among the powerful Kings who have ruled South Africa. He was in charge of the Bapedi Bamaroteng.
The great King was born on December 24th, 1980, and he was also known as Kgoshikgolo Thulare 111.
The king was known as an economic freedom fighter for land and justice. The mighty King married two wives, and he had four sons and a daughter.
King Thulare, on March 25th, was officially assigned as the rightful King of the Bapedi tribe under section 9 of the traditional leadership. The then-president formally recognized it, and Cyril Ramaphosa was the one who signed the legal document.
King Thulare died on January 16th, 2021, from Covid 19 Obstacles, and that was throughout the Covid- 19 pandemic in South Africa. They buried him on the 17th of the same January 2021.
After his death, his mother, Queen Manyaku Thulare, was chosen to be the acting king of the Pedi nation till they marry a candle wife who will produce a male child for them.
8. King Cetshwayo Kampande
He was the king of the Zulu kingdom from 1873 to 1879, born in 1826.
The king was mighty, and he was the one who led during the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879. He tried to make peace with the British during his reign, but unfortunately, he was defeated and was Ostracized but was later permitted to come back to his land Zulu. King Cetshwayo’s inauguration happened on September 1st, 1873, immediately after his father, King Mpande, died in 1872.
During his regime as the king, he banished the European missionaries from his land. King Cetswayo had a lot of rival Chief then who was led by Zibhehu, and there were waging war against the King then.
The European government wanted to help him lead some of his territories, but it failed.
On July 22nd, 1883, Chief Zibhebhu attacked King Cetshwayo, but he escaped with injuries.
King Cetswayo later died a few months later after sustaining the injuries in 1884; he was between 57 to 60 years when he died.
9. King Sabata Jonguhlanga Dalindyebo
King Jonguhlang was the son of Jongilizwe Sampu Dalindyebo. He was born on November 25th, 1928, and was the ruler of the Aba Thembu people of South Africa from 1954 to 1980. He is the father of Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, who later replaces him after. Throughout the rule of king Jonguhlang, it was all about dispute and war with Kaiser Matanzima.
The way political war kept on getting worse till Jonguhlanga was arrested in 1979 with the charge that he was undermining the power of the parliament and violating and damaging the worth of the state president.
Before his arrest, people described King Jonguhlanga as unpredictable, although they respected his moral authority.
After the arrest, he left Transkei and later died in Zambia, where he was in exile.
King Jonguhlanga was not given a befitting burial at first due to the traction between him and Kaiser. Still, in 1989 he was given a second burial due to Bantu Holomisa’s efforts.
Bantu Holomisa wants to range himself with Dalindyebo’s inheritance.
10. King Shaka ka Senzangakhona
The King was born in 1787; he was the founder of the Zulu Kingdom starting from 1816 to 1828.
King Shaka was mighty and influential during his time. He was responsible for re-organizing the military into inspiring force into various forms to make changes.
King Shaka was very powerful, but at the same time, cruel leader, to the extent that anyone that disobeyed his instructions would face severe punishment. At times, King Shaka will wipe out a who village to send a message.
The great King Shaka was a hero who fought like a warrior for the Mthethwa after his father died; his leaders saw this fighting skills and made him a Chief, but he conquered over 11,500 miles and later became a Chief a king.
His two half-brothers later killed King Shaka ka Senzangakhona, the King of Zuru by Mhlangana and Dingane in 1828.
After his death, one of his half-brothers, Dingane, becomes the King.
Final Word
After accessing the lives of South Africa Kings, one will know that with no doubt that the Kings were mighty and they lived heroic lives.
They forth for the were being of the South African community.
The painful thing was that some of their visions vanished by premature death.
Most of the Kings were not able to accomplish their mission, but indeed they laid a legacy that lives on in the history of South Africa.
