Xhosa King Xolilizwe Sigcau was a dignified and straightforward person, always fighting for the development of his people, United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said in a tribute released on Friday.
Sigcau, who died on December 31, is to be buried at his Nqadu Great Palace in Willowvale on Saturday, in a ceremony expected to be attended by thousands of mourners, including President Thabo Mbeki.
Holomisa said that as head of the Transkei government from 1987 to 1994, he had the privilege to be among the people who worked with Sigcau.
”Indeed, whenever he requested something to be done, he would send his councillors or would summon me to the palace,” he said.
”When we toppled the government of Transkei in 1987, I flew to his great place in Willowvale to explain to him why we had removed the government.
”And in full view of his subjects he addressed the people and introduced me to them and accepted my explanation of the situation and provided us with words of wisdom, such as ‘Don’t be like them by usurping state resources for yourselves and your families.”’
Holomisa said he had also appealed to Sigcau at that stage to help the Transkei government harmonise the relationship between Transkei and Ciskei, which were then victims of the divide-and-rule tactics of Pretoria.
Among other projects that they had worked on together was the tarring of the road from Idutywa to Willowvale, a technical college next to the great place.
”These are just some examples of the late king’s commitment to the development of his subjects,” Holomisa said. — Sapa