Senior ANC leaders are stepping back from politics to focus on leading their traditional royal families, writes Celani Sikhakhane in his Royal Mzansi column.
Advocate Ngoako Ramatlhodi, once a powerful figure in the African National Congress, is now putting politics aside to serve the Bapedi Kingdom.
Ramatlhodi was the first democratic Premier of Limpopo and served as a Cabinet minister. He resigned from Parliament in 2017 and has since stayed quiet on political matters. Last year, he was appointed as the Traditional Prime Minister of the Bapedi Kingdom.
His new role is to support Queen Regent Maria Manyaku Thulare as she faces a bitter leadership battle with Prince Morwamohube Thulare over the Bapedi throne.
When he was introduced by the royal family, his position was compared to that of the Zulu Prime Minister. He was tasked with advising the Queen Regent and making sure the Bapedi Kingdom gets the same recognition and treatment as the Zulu Nation.
Ramatlhodi is also a royal himself. He is known in royal circles as Prince Semane of the Bakwena clan.
Since taking up his new role, he has made very few public political comments. One of the rare times he did speak was after the death of former Finance Minister Tito Mboweni, when he briefly commented on the proposed Government of National Unity.
Ramatlhodi is not the only senior ANC leader taking a royal turn.
Professor Mathole Motshekga, also a long-time member of the ANC’s National Executive Committee, now serves as the Chief Adviser to Queen Modjadji VII, the Rain Queen of the Balobedu Kingdom. He too has stopped commenting on national politics.
Former Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, another ANC NEC member, is also spending more time on traditional duties. He regularly attends royal events with the Mkhize clan and was once considered a possible candidate for the position of Zulu Prime Minister after the death of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
Pictured above: Former Cabinet Minister and long-serving ANC NEC member Advocate Ngoako Ramatlhodi is now the Traditional Prime Minister of Bapedi Kingdom.
Image source: Polity.org
