Tatazela
The Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims, in its determination on the amaHlubi kingship claim, says “Tatazela kaSiyephu only ascended the throne in 1926. He died in 1956. He was succeeded by the Claimant, Muziwenkosi Johannes Radebe, Langalibalele II, in 1974.” Wikipedia’s list of Hlubi kings has “Tatazela (Mthunzi)” for 1926 to 1956, then regents Mshikashika Hadebe (1956 to 1968) and Johnson Hadebe (1968 to 1974) before Langalibalele II in 1974. Tatazela was a son of Siyephu; the king list gives no Hlubi ruler for 1910 to 1926, and the Commission’s word “only” suggests a delay, but neither source explains it.
His son
Wikipedia’s article on Langalibalele II says he was born on 27 May 1948 in Estcourt, that his father was Tatazela kaSiyephu, and that he has reigned since 1974, succeeding Johnson Hadebe, who served as regent, and was crowned in September 1976. The Commission names him Muziwenkosi Johannes Radebe and says he was appointed a senior traditional leader in the uKhahlamba district on 17 September 1974 under the Black Administration Act of 1927; Wikipedia names him Muziwenkosi Hadebe. We have not worked out which spelling the family uses, and see our Hadebe page for the Hadebe and Radebe names. He is a living leader, and this page says nothing about him beyond what these two sources record. See Langalibalele for the amaHlubi and the Commission’s finding on the kingship.
What we have not read
We have found no independent source for Tatazela: Wikipedia has no article on him that we could open (404). We have not read the Hlubi royal house’s own pages, Wright and Manson (1983), Ndawo’s histories or any account of the regency years. We do not know when he was born or married, or how he was recognised by the government.
Izithakazelo and totem
We found no recorded praises or totem for Tatazela, so we are printing none. If you belong to the Hlubi royal house and recite its izibongo, we would like to record them, with your permission and credited to you.
Sources and further reading
- Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims: Determination on the amaHlubi kingship claim (pp. 503 to 533 of the PDF)
- Wikipedia: Hlubi Kings
- Wikipedia: Langalibalele II
Do you belong to the Hlubi royal house? Tell us the history you know and we will add it, credited to you. Share what you know or WhatsApp 065 138 8213.