WeeklySA_AdminIDENTITY: Zulu royal and veteran educator will be guest of honour at the Afri-Masterclass in Sandton, where women leaders will explore leadership, enterprise and the legacy they leave for future generations…
By Len Maseko
Queen Nompumelelo Mchiza will bring a message of service, education and cultural responsibility to the Afri-Masterclass Women’s Month Edition in Sandton on Saturday.
The widow of the late Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu will attend as guest of honour and special guest speaker as the gathering marks the close of Women’s Month and the start of Heritage Month.
Organisers say the event will bring together women leaders, entrepreneurs, executives, founders, creatives and changemakers for conversations about leadership, enterprise, mentorship and meaningful professional connections.
Queen Nompumelelo’s participation places traditional leadership alongside contemporary debates about women’s advancement, education, economic opportunity and community development. Her own life has combined royal responsibility with work in classrooms and rural communities.
Born in the former Transkei and of Xhosa heritage, she spent much of her formative life in Zululand after her father’s work in the KwaZulu education department brought the family to the region. She married King Goodwill Zwelithini on July 25 1992 and became associated with the eNyokeni Royal Palace in Nongoma.
However, her public contribution has extended beyond the royal household. She became an educator in 1997 and taught children in rural KwaZulu-Natal, including Grade 5 and Grade 6 pupils at Kamsweli Primary School in Nongoma. She later became principal of Queen Kamsweli Primary School, close to the eNyokeni Royal Residence.
Her work exposed her directly to the difficulties confronting many rural pupils, among them poverty, hunger, inadequate school resources and limited access to opportunity. During her time at Kamsweli, she also became guardian to two orphaned learners, extending her role as a mother beyond her own family.
Queen Nompumelelo and the late king had three children: Princess Nqobangothando Zulu, Prince Nhlangano Zulu and Princess Cebo Zulu.
Ahead of the masterclass, the queen said leadership was ultimately measured by service, whether exercised by a mother, teacher, community leader or member of a royal household.
“Our heritage is not only something we inherit. It is something we have a responsibility to protect, strengthen and pass on. Our children must know where they come from while being equipped with the knowledge and confidence to determine where they are going,” she said.
Afri-Masterclass founder Zamani Ndimande said the queen’s story showed that leadership could take many forms — in a royal household, a boardroom, a classroom, the raising of children or service to a community. “Her commitment to education and young people speaks directly to the kind of intergenerational leadership we want to celebrate at Afri-Masterclass,” Ndimande said.
Founded in 2018, Afri-Masterclass describes its mission as creating spaces in which African creatives, entrepreneurs, founders and cultural practitioners can connect, learn and develop ideas with lasting economic and social value.
Ndimande said the Women’s Month edition was intended to leave participants not only inspired, but also linked to opportunities, one another and their heritage. The gathering would also encourage women to consider their responsibility in shaping what comes next.
Queen Nompumelelo’s address is expected to explore how women can preserve culture while opening new possibilities for younger generations — and how influence can be used to create opportunities for others.
The Afri-Masterclass Women’s Month Edition takes place on Saturday, September 5, at Sanlam, 11 Alice Lane, Sandhurst, Sandton. Event and ticket information is available at www.afrimaster.co.za.
