The Mpondo Kingdom has produced great Royal female leaders throughout history including Queens and Princesses who have made an enormous and instrumental contribution to the nation. Their legacies continue to make a difference in the communities. As custodians of custom, they continue to preserve Mpondo Culture and heritage, as mothers they live by the principle that it takes a village to raise a child and that no one lives in an island, umntu ngumntu ngabantu, play an instrumental role for the communities through rural development to ensure a better life for all. They are also teachers, teaching, moulding the future leaders of the nation. The great Royal women who are pillars of the Mpondo nation ate the rocks whose role most often that not, is underplayed.
When the South African nation celebrates women’s day during August month, it is befitting that these women are honoured for the amazing roles they have played and continue to play as pillars of the nation.
Queen Nombethe Sigcau, a remarkable woman of substance, resilience and courage is such leader.
Born the eldest daughter of Nkosi Maduma Madikizela and his great wife Nkosikazi Mantsundu (a Thembu Princess ) on 14 May 1951, showed signs of leadership at a young age. As a youngster, she became a tennis champion in the Eastern Mpondoland, representing the Mpondo Kingdom in other tournaments, led in agricultural and farming initiatives from a young age, led and was involved in the youth activities of the Methodist church whilst studying in Mfundisweni and continued to be active in church activities even after marriage initiating youth empowerment projects.
She came from a very strong foundation of successful and prosperous farmers who encouraged education. Queen Nombethe holds an honours in Business Administration from the University of South Africa. She was the first woman from her village to hold a driver’s licence. As one who was skilled in agriculture and farming, she taught women that they can also lead in this sector and share some skills in this regard as well as in neating and sewing of own clothing. One of the cooperatives she was instrumental in its formation received training on beard work and sewing. The cooperative continues to sew Traditional clothes and accessories which are amongst others exhibited and sold during the Mpondo Culture and Heritage Festival empowering local women. Her youngest daughter Princess Zamafaku Sigcau also followed suit starting her own company Zam Creations.
Married in December 1972 to the late ANC liberation struggle Nkosi Ntsikayezwe Sigcau, son of the late King Botha Manzolwandle Sigcau and his great wife Queen Mamjoli (Xesibe Princess), she became the pillar of the family and nation during the struggle days which saw her husband constantly arrested for political activism.
When Political meetings took place at her home Lwandlolubomvu Great Place, she would ensure that the guests were taken care of, and those who were in hiding at the Great Place sought by the apartheid government, were taken care of and were safe. When Nkosi Ntsikayezwe Sigcau was arrested, she would be the anchor of the family and the nation. Her home, was home to many and she helped raised and educate many children from various families.
A disciplinarian of note, she continues to be hands on person who leads by example. She has initiated many youth and women empowerment programs in Umthatha region and Ntabankulu area and empowered many including in business development as an official of ECDC, the former Transkei Development Council.
During covid she was involved in many programs to empower the elders, youth and women in the villages including donations of food parcels, sanitary towels, sanitizer and blankets to mention a few working with various stakeholders including the Mpondo Heritage Foundation, South African Royal Princesses Network, Departments of Health, Police and Social developments. She also initiated and participated in the Gender based violence awareness programs at schools and in the villages. Various GBV workshops were held at her homestead and at schools including Ntsikayezwe SSS, where she was key on creating awareness in this regard. She also led a sanitary towels drive which saw many schools and Mpondo Reed maidens receiving sanitary towels and hygienic products.
She was instrumental in ensuring that the youth of Mpondoland gets global exposure. As part of her cultural exchange and youth development projects, she led the youth of Dumezweni SSS to Switzerland in 2014, for a cultural exchange program. She also together with the Lwandlolubomvu Royal members initiated a skills development program with the Department of labour which saw many educated.
She led various agricultural initiatives including ukulinywa kwamazimba. She is also the co founder of the Mpondo Culture and Heritage Festival together with her son Nkosi Jongilanga Sigcau, who is the Senior Traditional Leader presiding over Lwandlolubomvu Traditional Council and also the Chairperson of the Alfred Nzo Local House of Traditional leaders and her eldest daughter Princess Stella Sigcau, a diplomat in China and founder of the South African Royal Princesses Network.
Queen Sigcau is indeed one of the strongest, resilient and yet humble Royal women who have committed themselves in making a difference to the lives of communities, she is an epitomy of ubuntu, dignity, humility, kindness and grace. A true mbokodo who is a pillar of the community, a strong woman of faith and substance.
