Maqoma (1798 – 1873) was King Ngqika’s first born son. Because his mother was of the Ngqosini clan, she was deemed not royal and therefore Maqoma could not be made king but chief. Ngqika then married a daughter of royal lineage and gave birth to Sandile, who was 22 years younger than Maqoma. Ngqika gave birth also to other children but we will just focus on these two. On Ngqika’s death, Maqoma became regent for Sandile until he became of age to be king.

 

It was during this time that the English settled in the Cape and the frontier wars began, where Maqoma showed his militaristic skills and prowess.

 

Maqoma’s first born son, Kona, was also born in the former Cis/Ciskei and helped his father during the wars. Kona also did not get the chieftainship as his mother was not royal. Maqoma then took a second wife who was royal and who gave birth to Namba. His third wife gave birth to Marexana from whom, Ncedisa, descends. He had other wives too who gave birth to his other children but we are going to limit the story to Kona and Marexana as their descendants.

 

Since Kona was not installed as chief, he decided to go to the former Cis/Transkei in the Centane area of Gqunqe. Given that he was a chief’s son, he was given Chieftainship in the area and his descendants continued to become chiefs. Zukiswa’s grandfather was the younger brother of the chief and they were the 3rd generation from Maqoma. Zukiswa’s father then became a headman (inkosana), in support of the chieftainship in 1992. He died in September 2006 and we have been fighting this battle since.

 

There is an issue of the ‘spirit’ of Maqoma, who spoke to Zukiswa in a dream/vision and continues to do so. This particular part thereof is an important part but will be incorporated in the future.

 

Whilst Kona went to Transkei, Marexana also ran until my father who was 4th generation from Maqoma, picked up the mantle of Maqoma’s chieftainship in the former Cis/Ciskei. He was a teacher by profession and between 1967 and 1977, revived this chieftainship and went to exhume Maqoma’s remains from Robben Island and they were interred in Ntabakandoda near Qonce with the support of the Kona family as they are part of Maqoma. He had died on the 9 September 1873.

 

Zukiswa is meant to take on the role as leader of the community, but the are many struggles to do so because she is a female and there is an on going court case