President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the late Hosi Dr Phylia Tinyiko Lwandlamuni N’wamitwa II as a trailblazer who transformed customary law and advanced the rights of women, saying her life was a triumph of courage over patriarchy.
Delivering the eulogy at her Special Provincial Official Funeral at the Valoyi Cultural Village in Tzaneen, Limpopo, on Sunday, the President said the VaTsonga nation had lost a mother.
“It is with great sorrow that we today bid farewell to a leader, a pioneer and a great daughter of the soil.
“The VaTsonga nation has lost a mother. Those who have experienced the pain of losing a mother will attest that it is one of the deepest wounds,” he said.
On behalf of government and the people of South Africa, President Ramaphosa extended condolences to the N’wamitwa Royal House and the broader Valoyi community, noting that tributes had poured in since her passing on 9 February.
As the first female Hosi of the VaTsonga, N’wamitwa II made history in 2008 when she ascended to the throne following a landmark ruling by the Constitutional Court of South Africa. The court affirmed that the Valoyi Traditional Authority could adapt its customary succession rules to allow a woman to become Hosi.
President Ramaphosa said her decision to challenge the male primogeniture principle took “great courage, resilience and strength of character”.
“She stood up to claim the rights guaranteed by our Constitution,” he said, adding that her victory signalled that customary law and constitutional rights are complementary, not in opposition.
Born on 27 June 1940 to Hosi Fofoza N’wamitwa and Nkosikazi Favasi N’wa-Manave, Princess Tinyiko Lwandlamuni Phylia N’wamitwa grew up at a time when girls were discouraged from pursuing education and barred from traditional leadership.
Yet her father ensured she attended school, first at Nwamitwa Primary and later at Shilubana Junior Secondary School under the care of Swiss missionaries. She went on to complete her teaching qualifications, a Bachelor of Arts degree and an Honours degree in anthropology.
Her career in education spanned decades. She served as a teacher, Home Economics Inspector, Education School Inspector, Circuit Manager and became the first woman appointed as Education Circuit Inspector in the former Gazankulu homeland.
Beyond education, she played an active role in the struggle for democracy. She participated in the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) negotiations ahead of the 1994 elections and later served four terms as a Member of Parliament for the African National Congress from 1994 to 2009.
Most recently, President Ramaphosa appointed her to the Eminent Persons Group tasked with guiding the National Dialogue.
“She was a traditionalist and a champion of gender equality. She respected and upheld cultural practices and traditions but did not hesitate to speak out if these violated the rights of others,” the President said.
Throughout her reign, N’wamitwa II was a vocal advocate for rural women, insisting on equal treatment in traditional courts and speaking out against gender-based violence.
She mobilised partnerships to support vulnerable families, including securing food assistance from Tiger Brands for hundreds of households over nearly a decade, and engaging British singer Elton John to assist in establishing a youth centre in Nwamitwa.
President Ramaphosa said her leadership embodied the spirit of the women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956, declaring that tradition must never be used to justify the oppression of women.
“To honour her memory, I call on all organs of State, the institutions of traditional leadership and all communities to declare that never again will culture and tradition be used as an excuse for the oppression, exclusion and subjugation of women,” he said.
Hosi N’wamitwa II is survived by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She leaves behind a legacy of pioneering leadership, courageous advocacy and selfless service under the guiding principle, ‘vukosi i vutirheri’ – royalty is service.
“Let us who remain behind pick up the spear that has fallen. Let us ensure that in the onward march towards full gender equality in South Africa, we leave no one behind – even in the most rural and remote community,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za
