CONGRESS of Traditional Leaders of South Africa’s (Contralesa) president and Mpumalanga House of Traditional Leaders chairman Kgoshi Mathibela Mokoena has expressed his heartfelt condolences to Queen Elizabeth II’s family.
He was speaking to hundreds of residents, businesspeople, politicians and amakhosi from eight provinces at his Mathibela Traditional Council annual ummemo celebration held at the local sport ground in Oakley, Bushbuckridge, on Saturday, 10 September.
“As royal leaders, we don’t have a choice but to pass our heartfelt condolences to the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. And what we want to say as Contralesa is that there are people who say this and that about her. All we are saying is as Africans there’s no way in which we can really punish someone who’s no more. Hence we are sending our condolences.
“What makes us even happier is that she’s loved by her people, and she loved her people as well. And the British government did something that’s not done by other governments where they took care of her, even the entire royal family.
“We hope some governments will emulate what the British government has done for the queen and her family,” he said.
However, Mokoena said they are aware of many Mzansi people who took to social media negatively, regarding the largest clear-cut diamond in the world known as The Great Star of Africa, which was owned by the queen.
The 530-carat gem was mined in Mzansi back in 1905, and has an estimated worth of $400 million.
“We are not going to condemn that. People have freedom of speech, so whatever they say suits them. It’s fine. But as royal leaders we are saying while she was still alive people kept quiet. It’s only now that they are speaking out just because she’s no more. We saying it’s human when someone has passed on to pay tribute, and pay respect to the departed,” said Mokoena.
President Cyril Ramaphosa also sent his heartfelt condolences to the royal family.
“I met Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the last Commonwealth meeting which was held in London in 2018 where we spent some time looking at letters that former president Nelson Mandela sent to the queen, and we reminisced about the great stateman that Her Majesty so respected.
“Her Majesty was an extraordinary and world-renowned public figure who lived a remarkable life. Her life and legacy will be fondly remembered by many around the world. The queen’s commitment and dedication during her 70 years on the throne remains a noble and virtuous example to the entire world.
On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, I wish to express my profound and sincere condolences to His Majesty, King Charles III on the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,” he said.
