Childhood Days Long Walk Original Manuscript (Image #8)

probationer nurse together with Oliver Tambo's niece, for leading a nurse's strike. In 1963 while training as a nurse at Baragwanath Hospital, she was detained under the Sabotage Law on the allegation that she had recruited people for military training abroad. My father is often referred to as Prime Minister of Thembuland during Dalindyebo's reign and that of his son, Jongilizwe, a claim which is by no means new in African Government. Gatsha Buthelezi's ancestors, Nqgengelele and Mnyamana, have been described by several historians as Prime Ministers of Shaka and Cetshwayo respectively. Certainly, my father was very close to Dalindyebo and accompanied him in his travels throughout the country. He was always at his side during important interviews with government officials and his views carried weight. A passage on page 28 of I DALI LA BA TEMBU ( The History of the Tembus) by W.D. Cingo (Palmerstone, January 1927) which appears in The Praises of Jongilizwe by the poet Qhakuva Dyanti, confirms this view. According to the poet, the king's right to the throne was challenged by one of his brothers and the matter was settled in favourr of the king through the intervention of my father. It is common knowledge that on the death of Jongilizwe a regent had to be appointed during Sabata's minority. There were several contestants including Jongintaba, Dabulamanzi, and Malithafa, all of whom were Dalindyebo's sons and fairly popular. My father suggested Jongintaba on the ground that the latter was, in the absence of Jongilizwe, the most senior of the sons of Dalindyebo and entitled as of right to act as regent. This argument was ultimately accepted both by the Thembus as well as the Government.